Zelenskiy and Top US General Praise Ukraine's Counteroffensive in War with Greater Meaning.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commended soldiers for their progress near the contested city of Bakhmut in northern Donetsk. The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said his forces continued "moving forward" near Bakhmut. Russia claimed to have captured Bakhmut last month, but Ukraine has insisted its forces retained a small foothold. Zelenskiy said Russia was reacting "hysterically" to any action undertaken by Ukrainian forces and singled out two units who "skillfully, decisively and effectively defend our positions, destroy the occupiers and, most importantly, move forward".