Ukraine's president gives strongest hint yet much anticipated counteroffensive has started

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given his clearest indication yet that Ukraine's long-awaited push to liberate territory still held by Russia's occupying forces is underway, saying "relevant counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine."

Speaking in Kyiv Saturday, the Ukrainian leader was asked to respond to comments by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who said Friday, "It can be stated with absolute certainty that the [Ukrainian] counteroffensive has begun."

The Russian leader added that it had not met with any success.

Zelensky shrugged off Putin's suggestions Ukraine's armed forces were struggling and sought to apply some psychological pressure of his own.

"It is interesting that Putin was talking about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia feels [the counteroffensive], feels that they do not have much time left," he said.

On the battlefield, Russia's Defense Ministry reported further Ukrainian offensive operations along the frontline to the south and east of Zaporizhzhia.

The Defense Ministry update, posted on its Telegram channel, said that troops from the Vostok brigade immediately to the southeast of the frontline town of Orikhiv, had repelled two attempted advances by Ukrainian tank units, one near the village of Novopokrovka.