The Ukrainian Defense Forces launched counter-offensive operations in the Kharkiv and Izyum directions.

This is stated in the Telegram channel of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny.

He said that he had discussed with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, General Mark A. Milley, the operational situation regarding the armed aggression in Ukraine.

Traditionally I have briefed my American counterpart on the operational situation. In particular, about enemy's main effort shifts towards Luhansk direction, were in the vicinities of Popasna, Kreminna, Torske the heavy fighting is going on as well as about the shift to conterattacks on Kharkiv and Izium directions." - said Zaluzhny.

He emphasized the resumption of the cruise missiles use by the Russian aggressor. The main elements of these actions are the destruction of logistical routes to provide military and technical assistance to Ukraine. So, throughout May 3, 14 cruise missiles were used, which were fired from TU-160 strategic bombers from the Caspian Sea. As of last night, 8 cruise missile launches have been recorded in our territory.

"Therefore, the issue of providing Ukraine with multiple launch missile systems such as M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS is crucial," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed.

On May 5, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the enemy had lost control over several settlements on the border of the Nikolaev and Kherson regions.

At the same time, the occupiers do not stop conducting offensive operations in order to establish full control over the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and hold the land corridor with Crimea.