Russian troops are on the entire front of the Ukraine, says General Gherasimov. “The strategic initiative is completely ours”

The head of the General Staff of the Russian army, General Valeri Gherasimov, said on Saturday that the Russian forces are engaged in a permanent offensive throughout the entire line of the Ukraine and have “Strategic Initiative”, reports Reuters.

“The combined group of troops continues a permanent offensive along the entire line of the front,” Gherasimov said in a speech in front of the Russian commanders made public by Zvezda, the official newspaper of the Ministry of Defense. “Currently, the strategic initiative is completely of Russian forces,” he added.

Russia has intensified its air blows this summer on Ukrainian cities far beyond the front line and continued the offensive along a large part of the Eastern Front, trying to win more territory, notes Agerpres.

Attacks on Ukrainian capital Kiev killed 23 people on Thursday and injured 38, according to Kiev officials.

The head of the Russian General Staff claims that Russia has made 76 targeted blows on facilities of the Ukrainian militaro-industrial complex this spring and summer, mainly targeting the sites where long-range rocket systems are and where drones are produced.

How much territory Russia controls, according to Gherasimov

Gherasimov also stated that Russia currently controls 99.7% of the Lugansk region, 79% of the Donetk region, 74% of the Zapoari region and 76% of the Herson region.

Since March, Russia has won over 3,500 kmp territory in Ukraine and has been controlling 149 villages, Gherasimov added.

The Russian forces began to press this month in the Dnipropetrovsk region (in the center-east of Ukraine), General Valeri Gherasimov claiming that seven villages in the region are now under Russian control.