Alina, left; hugs her husband Andrily in a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraina, July 10, 2023. Andriy was a Ukrainian army 47 brigade air reconnaissance officer, code name, Apostle, who was heavily wounded in a battle with Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region.

   Wife Alina embraces her husband Andrily in a hospital in Kiev, Ukraine, on July 10, 2023. Andrily was an aerial reconnaissance officer of the Ukrainian Army's 47th Brigade, Operation Code Name (Apostle) Apostle, and was seriously wounded in a battle with Russian forces in the Zaporizha region. On July 12, Ukraine's Interior Minister shared one photo on Twitter, saying "more than many words. It is a photo of Andrey and his wife, Alina, who lost both eyes, both arms, and part of her hearing in the Ukrainian war. While on a combat mission, Andrey came under fire from Russian troops. One of the shells exploded at his feet. The medic who rescued him was convinced that the young man would not survive, while Andrei himself was conscious to the end and gave the order.

　On 27/23/23, heavy fighting took place in southeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities launched a massive offensive, Russian officials said, in a marked escalation of hostilities. Ukrainian forces launched a counter-offensive with weapons supplied by NATO countries and trained troops against Russian forces that invaded some 17 months ago. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington reported that Ukrainian forces launched a major mechanized counteroffensive in western Zaporizha on July 26, breaking through Russian defensive positions. Ukrainian authorities posted video footage of a Ukrainian military group overrunning the village of Staromaiorske (Staromaiorske) in Donetsk Oblast, adjacent to Zaporizha Oblast, on July 27. Ukrainian authorities congratulated the troops for regaining control of the southeastern village.

　Russian authorities praised Russian troops for repelling an attack in the southeastern Zaporizha region. Russian authorities charged on state television that the Ukrainian troops' attack was not successful and caused many casualties. Ukrainian forces have made only incremental gains since launching their counteroffensive in early June. Russian authorities repeatedly claimed that Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy casualties without providing evidence. The Ukrainian military has deployed thousands of troops in the southeastern region over the past few days.

　U.S. officials said that the Ukrainian military has begun to deploy troops from the 10th Corps. Holding the 10th Corps in reserve, the new troops were added to the battlefield where they were able to penetrate the Russian defenses. The Ukrainian army is conserving its fighting strength and carefully breaking through the Russian minefield. The Russians have set up vast minefields to block the advance of the Ukrainian army and have attacked Ukrainian armored vehicles and artillery using fighter jets and floating ammunition. U.S. officials provided weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. They urged patience as Ukraine chipped away at Russian positions, but declined to comment on the latest developments.

Warning: Alina, left; hugs her husband Andrily in a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraina, July 10, 2023. Andriy was a Ukrainian army 47 brigade air reconnaissance officer, code name, Apostle, who was heavily wounded in a battle with Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region.(AP Photo/ Libkos, File)