Ukraine claims to have retaken more than 1,000 sq km (385 sq miles) of territory in its south and east from Russia in the last week. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the area had been “liberated” as part of a counter-offensive since 1 September. More than 20 villages in the Kharkiv region have also been recaptured, another general claims. Russian forces have disputed some of the advances, which if confirmed would mark a significant victory for Ukraine. Kyiv has liberated “dozens of settlements” near the north-eastern Kharkiv region so far this month, President Zelensky said in his nightly address on Thursday. In a separate Facebook post Ukraine’s army claimed that in the last three days alone its troops had advanced 50km (31 miles). (BBC)…[+]