Ukrainian troops are carrying out a counteroffensive against Russian forces on the eastern front, reclaiming seven settlements, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says after visiting the Donetsk region.

"In fact, our forces are depriving the occupier (Russia) of the opportunity to carry out a full-fledged offensive operation, which they had been planning for a long time and counting on," he said in a video address.

Ukrainian forces have taken back 160 square km since the start of the operation, he said, adding that more than 170 square km and another nine settlements had been "cleared of the occupiers".

He did not specify when the operation began.

He described fighting as heavy in the area of Dobropillia, an area where there were rapid Russian advances in mid-August, and around the hub of P

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