Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine's counteroffensive is failing, saying Kyiv has failed to achieve any success.
"This is a large-scale counteroffensive, using reserves that were trained for this purpose, it has been underway since the 4th of June and is still underway, right now," Putin said Tuesday at a meeting with war correspondents.
"[Ukrainian troops] have not reached the front line," Putin said, claiming that "the adversary was not successful in any sectors. They have huge losses."
Ukraine says it has liberated several settlements in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday night that "there is advancement in different areas," but there are also reports Russia is contesting several villages Kyiv claimed to have retaken. Later Wednesday, Ukraine's deputy defense minister said there are "extremely fierce" battles.
In other news, the Ukrainian port city of Odesa was the target of a Russian missile strike overnight that left three people dead and at least 13 injured, according to officials. The region of Donetsk was also targeted, leaving three civilians dead and others wounded.