During a joint briefing in Kyiv with Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Russian army had launched an offensive in Kharkiv Region, but that the Russians were aware of the plans.
"Russia has launched a new wave of counter-offensive actions in this direction. Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades and artillery," the President of Ukraine said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that it was important that Russia could continue to bring its troops to the Kharkiv direction.
"Our military and military command knew about it (the possible offensive - ed.) and calculated their forces to stop them. Now there is a fierce battle in this direction. With artillery fire. And for now, we have stopped them," the head of state added.
The President also spoke about Russia's attempts to expand the front in Donetsk Region.