Ukrainian troops liberated 1000 sq. km of territory and captured dozens of settlements during the counteroffensive against Russia. He stated this in an evening video message. Zelensky also posted a video showing the Ukrainian military hoisting the flag of Ukraine on the roof of a building in Balakleya.
On September 8, it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine entered Balakliya, in one of the videos the troops were driving through the city center. The liberation of Balakleya plays an important role in the further advancement of Ukrainian troops to the east towards Kupyansk and the coverage of the group of Russian troops stationed in the Izyum region. According to military expert Roman Svitan, it was from Balakleya that the Russian group in Izyum was planning an offensive to the south or southwest to cut off supplies from Slavyansk. In fact, Balakleya is a transport center that will allow us to liberate the entire Kharkov region and thwart the Russian attack on Bakhmut.