Zelensky’s spirit beat Putin! Russian soldiers fleeing from Ukraine

Russia is now on the back foot in the war against Ukraine. Russian troops have left their main stronghold in northeastern Ukraine after a rapid advance by Ukrainian forces. The rapid retreat in Kharkiv province on Saturday was Russia’s worst defeat in the fighting. Earlier in March, Russian troops were sent back from the capital Kyiv. This could prove to be an important step in the war against Ukraine. Russian troops have also left ammunition stores and weapons there.

Government-run news agency TASS quoted Russia’s defense ministry as saying it had ordered troops to leave the surrounding area and strengthen operations elsewhere in neighboring Donetsk. TASS reported that the head of the Russian administration in Kharkiv asked his troops to evacuate the province and flee to Russia to save lives.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Saturday evening, “The Russian military is performing to the best of its ability these days to show its back.” He said Ukraine’s armed forces had liberated some 2,000 square kilometers (770 sq mi) of territory since retaliation against Russia earlier this month.

Ukrainian officials declined to confirm that they had recaptured Izium, but Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak posted a photo of soldiers on the outskirts. He also tweeted an emoji of grapes along with it. The name of the city means “raisins”.

Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elisondo, reporting from Kyiv, said that Izium was a major military stronghold for the Russians for several months. “It took the Russians six weeks to capture that city,” Elisondo said.

The announcement of the Russian withdrawal came hours after Ukrainian troops entered the city of Kupiansk to the north. Ukrainian officials posted photos of their soldiers early Saturday, waving the country’s blue-and-yellow flag in front of Kupiansk’s city hall.

Zelensky said that the Ukrainian armed forces are advancing on the front in various areas. Earlier on Saturday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, who was visiting the Ukrainian capital, said Berlin would continue to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian military.