All Ukrainian commanders optimistic about Ukrainian counter-offensive, Zelenskyy says

"I am in touch daily with our commanders in various areas, including (Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr) Syrskiy, (Commander of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops, General Oleksandr) Tarnavskyi, (Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Eduard) Moskalyov, (Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy) Nayev, and (Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii) Zaluzhnyi,” Zelesnkyy said.

“Everyone is positive. Tell that to (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin," Zelenskyy said without going into detail, when asked how the Ukrainian counter-offensive was going.

"Counter-offensive and defensive actions are underway in Ukraine — I won’t go into detail about which stage," Zelenskyy said.

"I would not trust Telegram channels or Putin. We must trust our military,"the president added.

Some Western media, including U.S. newspaper the Washington Post, reported on June 8 that Ukraine had launched its long-expected counter-offensive against Russia, referring to intensifying of the Ukrainian army's combat actions on the front line in the country’s southeast.

Bloomberg reported Ukrainian success in the southern direction on June 9, however with great losses in equipment.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved tactical success at the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the Institution for the Study of War said on June 9.

However, the start of the counter-offensive won't be officially announced, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier.

The Ukrainian army has conducted “somewhat successful” offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhya section of the front, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on June 5.

At the same time, Ukrainian forces are reported to be advancing in and around the Donetsk town of Bakhmut, which was earlier captured by the Russian and practically destroyed.