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Ukraine Reclaims 300km in the South While Russian Lines Crumble Without Starlink
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s Defense Forces have regained control of 300 square kilometers on the southern front, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Agence France-Presse ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to AFP, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian troops achieved the gains during counteroffensive and assault operations in the south, without specifying the timeframe.
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“Today I can congratulate our army—first and foremost all the Defense Forces—because as of today, 300 square kilometers have been liberated,” he said.
In the same interview with AFP, Zelenskyy rejected claims that Ukraine is losing the war. “It cannot be said that we are losing the war. Honestly, we are definitely not losing it, definitely. The question is whether we will win?” he stated, adding that “it is a very expensive question.”
The president also referred to reported diplomatic messaging around territorial concessions. “Both Americans and Russians say: if you want the war to end tomorrow, leave Donbas,” Zelenskyy said.
According to AFP, Zelenskyy linked battlefield developments in part to disruptions in satellite communications used by Russian forces.
He said Ukrainian troops took advantage of the loss of access to Starlink terminals on the Russian side, while acknowledging that Ukrainian units also experienced interruptions. At the same time, he noted that Russian setbacks were “much more serious.”
SpaceX has tightened controls over Starlink usage in Ukraine, requiring terminals to be registered and placed on an authorized list for full operation. Russia officially bans the use and registration of Starlink equipment on its territory.
Zelenskyy did not provide operational details about which specific areas were retaken within the reported 300 square kilometers. His remarks, as reported by AFP, come amid continued fighting in the southern sector, including in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukrainian forces have conducted counterattacks against Russian positions.
In the interview with AFP, the president also addressed future security arrangements, including the potential deployment of European forces in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Kyiv seeks their presence closer to the frontline.
“We would like to see the contingent closer to the line of contact. Of course, no one wants to stand on the first line, and of course Ukrainians would like our partners to stand with us on the frontline,” Zelenskyy said.
Earlier, according to Defense Express, Russia began testing its “Barrazh-1” stratospheric balloon as an alternative communications relay after tighter Starlink restrictions in occupied territories. However, prevailing west-to-east winds over Ukraine would likely push the platform back toward Russia, limiting its practical use.
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