Putin humiliated as Ukraine blasts Russian missiles out of the sky in Zaporizhzhia
The Kremlin's forces have been pushed back by a strong Ukrainian counteroffensive in the east of the country.
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A number of Russian missiles have been shot down by Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. This comes as President Zelensky's troops have successfully pressed forward its offensive operations in the northeast of the country.
The Kyiv Independent shared information about the missile attack on their Twitter page.
They wrote on Wednesday night: "Ukraine shoots down four Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
"Ukraine’s Air Command “East” reported on Sept. 28 that Russian Su-35 fighter jets fired five Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles.
"According to Ukraine’s Air Force, one missile was downed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one in Kryvyi Rih District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and two in Synelnykove District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast."
⚡️ Ukraine shoots down 4 Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 28, 2022
Ukraine’s Air Command “East” reported on Sept. 28 that Russian Su-35 fighter jets fired five Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles.
Ukrainian advances have now pushed ahead to encircle the town of Lyman, currently under Russian occupation in the northeast of the country.
Maps of the region show Kyiv's forces moving north across the Siverskyi Donets river from areas east and west of town, and east across the Oskil river from positions north of Lyman.
Mike Martin, a fellow at the Department of War Studies at King's College in London, said it was possible that Ukraine would eventually trap Moscow's men in Lyman.
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He tweeted: "Drive flanks north and east of Lyman, causing the Russians to reinforce this critical railroad junction.
"Then drive a much bigger encircling movement to trap the whole lot."
According to Ukraine, their army has managed to reclaim more than 3,000 square miles from Russian forces in less than two weeks.
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Ok Lyman looks like the old bait and switch.
— Dr Mike Martin ������ (@ThreshedThought) September 25, 2022
Drive flanks north and east of Lyman causing the Russians to reinforce this critical railroad junction (1).
Then drive a much bigger encircling movement to trap the whole lot (2). pic.twitter.com/sSSaGosmr5
Putin has responded to these events by ordering a partial mobilisation of 300,000 Russian reserve troops to go and fight in Ukraine.
Russian-installed officials have also held sham referendums on joining Russia in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Russia's state media reported a strong result in its favour in every region, although Ukraine disputes these outcomes.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said: "Forcing people in these territories to fill out some papers at the barrel of a gun is yet another Russian crime in the course of its aggression against Ukraine."