Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly confirmed that the country’s anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces in the eastern regions has started.

“Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place,” Zelensky said according to the BBC News.

He then added he would not go into detail about the offensive to reclaim the country’s territories captured by Russian invaders during the 16 months of deadly war.

“I am in touch with our commanders of different directions every day. Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin,” Zelensky also said according to The Associated Press.

The Ukrainian leader was speaking at a press conference in the capital Kyiv alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which had begun in 2014.

The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, and instigated Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II.

About 8 million Ukrainians were internally displaced by June 2023, and more than 8.2 million had fled the country by May 2023.

Recently, fighting has escalated in the south and east of Ukraine and speculation about progress of the widely anticipated push.