Heavy Russia-Ukraine fighting in southern Zaporizhia region

International Desk: Ukraine continues to attack the southern Zaporizhia region. Russian officials and military bloggers say there is heavy fighting.

They said Ukrainian troops with tanks, artillery and drones were trying to advance south of the city of Orikhiv. A senior Ukrainian defense official said the enemy was on "active defense". Several military experts say Zaporizhia will be the focus of Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive.

They argue that Kiev is trying to regain control of the Sea of ​​Azov. Earlier on Thursday, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Ukraine's counter-offensive had begun. However, Kiev has kept its mouth shut on this issue.