Ukrainian troops entered the northeastern town of Kupiansk on Saturday, according to officials, as Kyiv’s counteroffensive made significant territorial gains.
A photo posted on Twitter by Ukrainian security service officials showed a group of troops gathered around an armoured vehicle. A caption said that Kupiansk “was and will always be Ukrainian”.
“We will free our land to the last centimetre!,” it added. “Let’s go further! Glory to Ukraine!”
The capture of several towns came as UK officials claimed the speed of Ukraine’s advances had taken Russia “by surprise”.
In a daily update, they said Kyiv’s forces have advanced 50km (31 miles) into previously Russian-held territory.
The attack has also left thousands of Moscow’s troops “increasingly isolated” near the key city of Izyum, they said.
The advances are concentrated in the northeast of the country as Ukraine also tries to push back Russian forces in the south.
On Friday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had retaken 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region.
Speaking from Kyiv during his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said his forces are “gradually taking control of new settlements” and “returning the Ukrainian flag and protection for all our people”.
Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in the east earlier this week, while international attention had been focused on an anticipated advance near the southern city of Kherson.
Analysts believe Russia had redirected some of its most seasoned troops to defend the city.
In their update, UK officials said “Russian forces were likely taken by surprise” by the eastern offensive.
