Zelensky Belatedly Confirms That Major Ukraine Offensive Has Begun

Days after Ukraine's counteroffensive was widely reported to have begun in international press reports, currently concentrated in four areas of the east and south, President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to give belated confirmation that it is indeed in progress for the first time in Saturday statements.

"Counteroffensive and defensive actions are being taken in Ukraine," Zelensky said from the Ukrainian capital while standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Canadian leader had made a "surprise" visit to the war-ravaged country. "I don’t comment on the scale. I am in touch with our commanders. Everyone is in a positive mood. Pass this on to Putin."

Canada has pledged another $375 million in defense aid, and Trudeau along with other NATO heads of state will attend a big NATO annual meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania early next month. Zelensky is pushing for full membership in the alliance, or at least to receive strong security guarantees. 

In a Saturday press conference, Zelensky remarked that it's "interesting" Putin earlier commented on counteroffensive, claiming that it implies "Russians feel they won’t stay" on Ukrainian territory "for long."

Putin had said from Sochi the day prior, on Friday, "We can clearly say the offensive has started, as indicated by the Ukrainian army’s use of strategic reserves."

"But the Ukrainian troops haven’t achieved their stated tasks in a single area of fighting," Putin described. "We are seeing that the Ukrainian regime’s troops are suffering significant losses," Putin asserted without clarifying details.

"It’s known that the offensive side suffers losses of 3 to 1 – it’s sort of classic – but in this case, the losses significantly exceed that classic level," he added.

Ukraine did suffer a setback, and hugely symbolic blow, after Russia destroyed several West-supplied tanks and armored fighting vehicles, as widely circulating footage and imagery showed. 

Meanwhile fighting has intensified along front lines as the below first-person footage capturing a fresh assault by Ukrainian troops documents...

Multiple war analysts have at this point confirmed that Russian forces destroyed their first German-made Leopard II tank, which happened Wednesday in the south of the country. Videos and photographs which have emerged also appear to show destroyed Bradley fighting vehicles provided by the United States. Drone footage captured a Leopard II tank being destroyed at is was traveling in a column of other vehicles.