Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his thanks in a Facebook post on Friday, Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform reported.
Ukraine's president posted a series of photos of Ukrainian forces traversing the Dnipro river and wrote: “The left bank of Kherson region. Our warriors. Thank you for your strength, for moving forward! Glory to everyone who returns freedom and justice to Ukraine."
Ukrainian troops have recently conducted a series of successful operations on the east bank of the Dnipro in Kherson province, gaining several bridgeheads, Ukrinform reported.
The waterway splits the frontline in southern Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Zelensky's top aide, Andrii Yermak, was the first Ukrainian official to confirm these advances, the Euromaidan Press website reported.
Yermak said in a speech at the Hudson Institute, a US think tank: "Against all odds, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have gained a foothold on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro.“
On Wednesday, the Russian-installed governor of the Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, confirmed the Ukrainian advance, in a post on the Telegram social messaging app, according to news reports.
A sustained Ukrainian breakthrough across the Dnipro would mark a significant tactical success for Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia, the independent outlet The Moscow Times reported.
As part of its latest counteroffensive against Russia, Ukraine is also pushing through the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast, in a bid to reach the port of Melitopol on the Sea of Azov, as well as aiming to retake the city of Bakhmut in the east, according to news outlets.
Friday is day 632 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
(pm/gs)
Source: Ukrinform, Euromaidanpress.com, The Moscow Times
