Ukrainian general says more than 3000 sq km of territory have been recaptured from Russian troops

Ukraine said Sunday its forces had recaptured more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) this month from Russian troops in a counter-offensive centered on the country’s northeast.

“Since the beginning of September, more than 3,000 square kilometers have been returned to Ukrainian control. Around Kharkiv, we have begun to advance not only in the south and east, but also to the north,” Ukrainian general Valeriy Zaluzhny said in a statement on social media. “We are 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the border.”

President Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Saturday that ‘around 2,000 kilometers’ had been taken from Russian forces.

“For the moment, since the beginning of September, around 2,000 kilometers has been liberated,” said Zelenskyy in his evening address.

“These last days, the Russian army has shown us its best (side) — its back,” Zelenskyy added. “After all, it’s a good choice for them to flee.

“There is no place in Ukraine for the occupiers. There never will be.”

Ukraine’s army announced a counter-offensive at the beginning of the month before making a dramatic break through Russian lines in the northeast this week, in the Kharkiv region.