Gen Syrskyi claimed Russian forces had suffered eye-watering losses including 1500 killed in action, another thousand wounded and at least 12 main battle tanks destroyed.
In a statement on Monday Gen Syrskyi said: “Control has been restored in seven settlements and nine more have been cleared of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
“As of 12pm on 22 September 2025, a total of 164.0 km² have been liberated and another 180.3 km² cleared of enemy sabotage groups.”
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy announced the counter-attack success last week.
The fight back followed a shock Russian advance in August.
Small groups of Russian “saboteurs” found weak points in the Ukrainian line and advanced almost six miles overnight, threatening to cut a key supply road between Dobropillia and Kostiantynivka.
Ukraine’s troops scrambled to contain the breakthrough and have now started to push them back.
Gen Syrskyi said his forces had continued to advance yesterday.
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He said: “In the past 24 hours alone the enemy have lost 65 servicemen, 43 of them killed in action, along with 11 pieces of equipment.”
The wrecked Russian kit included four artillery guns, six drones and a quad bike which Russian troops used for assaults.
Gen Syrskyi claimed his assault teams “advanced between 200 m and 2.5 km in certain areas.”
The destroyed Russian weapons ranged from 12 main battle tanks to almost 60 motorcycles over the course of the counter offensive.
Russia hit back by claiming its troops had advanced to the south of Pokrovsk and captured the hamlet of Kalynivske.
Multiple videos of explosions claimed the be from Ukrainian forces reclaiming land have surfaced on social mediaCredit: X
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Kyiv’s top general Oleksandr Sysrskyi said his troops had recaptured some 60 square miles in a major reversal since AugustCredit: X
It comes as President Zelensky prepared to meet Donald Trump at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Zelenskyy is expected to press Trump for sanctions on Russia if Putin refuses to meet them.
President Trump said Putin had “let him down” over peace in Ukraine. Speaking during his state visit to Britain Trump said he thought the war in Ukraine would have been the easiest war for him to solve because of their relationship.
He said: “I thought this war would be one of the easiest to solve because of my relationship with Putin. But he has really let me down.”
The head of Britain’s MI6 warned Putin was “stringing us along”.
In a message aimed squarely at Donald Trump, the spy chief Sir Richard Moore said: “I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation.
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Sir Richard, who is known as C, used his final chief as head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service to say Putin lies to the world, to his people and “perhaps even to himself.”
He said: “We should not believe him or credit him with strength he does not have.”
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Sir Richard Moore
Trump has called Putin a genius, repeatedly mentioned Russia’s size and strength, and he rolled out the red carpet for Putin when they met in Alaska last month.
Sir Richard, who has access to Britain’s most secret reports on Putin’s intentions, insisted the Russian dictator was still determined to bring Kyiv under Russian control.
He said: “Putin seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal.”
Ukrainian soldiers fire toward Russian position on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia regionCredit: AP
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An air cannon is fired as Ukrainian artillery division supports soldiers in a counteroffensive on the Zaporizhzhya frontlineCredit: Getty
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Countering Ukraine’s claims, Russia has said its troops had advanced to the south of Pokrovsk and captured the hamlet of KalynivskeCredit: AFP
He said: “He cannot succeed. Russia simply does not have the wherewithal to fully subjugate Ukraine by force.
Sir Richard acknowledged Russian troops were “grinding forward on the battlefield”.
But he said it was at “a snail’s pace and horrendous cost”.
He said: “Putin has bitten off more than he can chew.
“History warns us never to underestimate a country fighting for its independence and for its very survival.
“Greater powers than Russia have failed to subjugate weaker powers than Ukraine.
“In the end, if we hold our nerve, Putin will need to come to terms with the fact that he has a choice – to risk an economic and political crisis that threatens his own rule, or make a sensible deal.”
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Sir Richard, who has been tipped as a possible British ambassador to Washington, lavished praise on Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy.
He said: “My admiration for him is unbounded.”
By contrast he accused Putin of plunging Russia into “long term decline”.
He said: “He invests not in infrastructure, schools and hospitals but in missiles, munitions and morgues.”
Britain and European leaders have rallied around President Zelenskyy after the war leader had a disastrous meeting with President Trump in the White House in March.
Trump’s relations with Zelenskyy have since improved but Ukrainians fear he could cut US support to Ukraine on a whim.
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Trump has said Russia will face ‘serious consequences’ if Putin doesn’t make steps towards peaceCredit: Reuters
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The pair have an outwardly friendly working relationshipCredit: Reuters
Trump threatened Russia with “serious consequences” if he didn’t make steps towards peace.
But Trump’s deadline passed with no penalties for Russia.
Footage shows cars parked in the Cornish seaside town of Polzeath as the tide rises around their tyres, with visitors rushing to rescue their vehicles before they are submerged.
A tourist who left their car at Polzeath beach got a nasty shock when they returned (Image: UCG, UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Holidaymakers visiting the Cornish seaside town of Polzeath were left stunned to discover their cars slowly disappearing beneath the waves over the bank holiday weekend.
Video footage captures vehicles parked in the town on Cornwall’s north coast as the tide creeps up around their wheels, with panicked visitors scrambling to save their cars before they vanished underwater.
Dramatic scenes showing a 2010 Subaru Outback in danger were filmed by 34-year-old Sam Peters, who witnessed the mayhem as good Samaritans rallied to help the motorist retrieve their vehicle.
He said: “Everyone was panicking and it caused much distress. Many onlookers were surprised and concerned, and some tried to help.
“Several cars got caught in the rising tide and became stuck on the beach. The car finally got pushed out by many supporters on the beach.”
This marks yet another occasion that tourists and residents have witnessed cars stranded by the waves at Polzeath, reports Cornwall Live.
People attempting to rescue one of the cars(Image: Sam Peters / Jam Press)
Further footage, filmed in May, revealed a Mini falling foul of the tide on the same stretch of sand. The clip, recorded by the Polzeath Beach Ranger Service, depicted the vehicle parked and encircled by water.
In a Facebook post, they cautioned drivers about the perils of parking on sand. They said: “If you drive over seaweed to get to your parking space, consider how the seaweed might have been delivered.”
Despite the cheeky comment, the service confirmed that the owner managed to rescue their car before it was carried off during one of the May bank holidays.
People attempting to rescue a car(Image: Sam Peters / Jam Press)
A spokesperson for the service, speaking to Cornwall Live, offered some advice to drivers on how to avoid a similar situation.
They explained: “On this occasion, the tide was at its highest that day, but we do sometimes have higher spring tides. Many factors affect the height of the tide, including sun and moon phases, wind, waves and atmospheric pressure.
“It’s a beach car park – one of the last in the region – and it serves as a valuable resource for tourism and the community. It also helps to raise money to pay for necessary services like lifeguards, beach cleaning, road sweeping, bin emptying and toilets.
“As with all coastal destinations, there are risks associated with tides, weather and the landscape, and we encourage visitors to be aware of that. There are visible warning signs.”
Nestled on the east coast of Kent, this beach is often deemed one of the UK’s most photogenic coastal spots
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Visitors can explore the bay’s caves at low tide(Image: DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams 2018)/Getty Images)
If you’re looking for a perfect beach day out this summer, look no further. A travel influencer has now flagged an idyllic, lesser-known gem – and it’s only two hours from London.
Step on the fine golden sands of this east coast beach and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in Italy or Greece. The scenic spot is framed by white cliffs, chalk stacks and caves accessible when tides are low.
TikTok creator ‘Lotteboo‘ recently expressed her admiration for the bay in a quick video. She named it a ‘fairytale’ spot in the UK while adding: “Tucked between Broadstairs and Margate on the east coast of Kent, Botany Bay is one of the UK’s most photogenic beaches — known for its dramatic chalk stacks, golden sands, and hidden sea caves that are only accessible at low tide.
“There’s a small car park right next to the beach (Botany Bay Hotel car park – CT10 3LG), but it fills up fast on sunny days. Alternatively, you can park at Kingsgate Bay or Joss Bay and walk along the coast (about 15–20 minutes with sea views all the way).”
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As the influencer mentioned, the beach in question is none other than Botany Bay in Kent. For Londoners near Waterloo, it can take just over two hours to drive there, though this depends on traffic.
While many visitors simply enjoy lounging on its golden sands, others may safely enjoy a dip in the sea. According to Visit Kent, Botany Bay is among many of the county’s beaches to have received a Blue Flag award for water quality and top-tier cleanliness.
Fossil-finding and rock pool exploring are two other popular pastimes at the bay as well. Although it’s not part of the UK’s Jurassic Coast, Kent is often believed to be one of the best sites for fossil discoveries in the UK.
As of now, Botany Bay has an impressive 4.2-star rating on Tripadvisor, with some visitors even claiming to have spotted starfish and crabs while there. Among the overwhelming comments, one read: “Lovely spot for a small and secluded beach at low tide you can explore the rock pools and find crabs, shrimp, starfish, walk around in to the second small beach (until tide is in).
Botany Bay is frequently praised for its clean waters(Image: Chadi Nassrallah/Getty Images)
“…Water is sometimes seaweed mixed, but a sandy beach to at least get you to shoulder height for a swim, although there is seaweed in the deep parts, nice beach cafe with food and drinks and ice cream, didn’t use the toilets but I also took my rubbish home.”
Meanwhile, another person wrote: “Great bay, secluded, very pretty and very well maintained, surprisingly little rubbish in the beaches and coastal area.” Someone else added: “The beach was clean with wide open spaces for our dog to run free.”
It’s also worth noting that Margate, a quaint seaside town, is only a short drive from Botany Bay. Visitors here can enjoy a variety of unique shops and restaurants, visit another beach, or head to Dreamland, a free vintage-style amusement park.
Although it might not boast quite the same scorching temperatures as other seaside spots abroad, it’s still worth a day trip while Britain’s still sunny this summer.
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below
