(Reuters) – Ukrainian troops pressed on with a frontline counteroffensive around two cities in the east of the country on Friday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying heavy losses were being inflicted on Russian forces.

Russia said its forces had captured two new villages in their slow advance through Ukraine’s east and south, but its Defence Ministry made no reference to the Ukrainian drive near the towns of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said the counteroffensive had disrupted Russian plans in their longstanding objective of seizing the logistics centre of Pokrovsk.

“It was there that one of the most important directions of the Russian offensive was located, and they were unable to launch a full-fledged offensive there. Our military is destroyi

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