Kiev, June 11 : Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have confirmed that his country's long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia has started, according to a media report.

An initial Ukrainian counteroffensive in the fall regained territory around Kherson and Kupiansk. Since then, the sides have fought a grinding war for incremental gains around the devastated city of Bakhmut and elsewhere. Neither side has made any major territorial progress.