Ukrainian forces continue counteroffensive as Putin lays false claim to more land

Amna Nawaz:

The war in Ukraine is grinding towards winter. Now, even as Vladimir Putin lays false claim to more Ukrainian land, Ukraine's forces continue their counteroffenses across the east and the south.

But the cost in human life and terror for the people of Ukraine continue to mount day by day.

In a region that Russia claimed as its own, targets today once again were civilians. Emergency workers rushed to save anyone stuck underneath the rubble after seven Russian missiles hit the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, entire residential buildings crushed in another brutal attack; 13-year-old Vladyslav survived, but is now homeless.

Vladyslav, Zaporizhzhia Attack Survivor (through translator):

I didn't understand what was happening. It was as if I were in the middle of a fog. I don't know how to describe this feeling. I was very afraid.

Amna Nawaz:

Zaporizhzhia's regional governor said at least three people were killed, but he remained defiant.

Oleksandr Starukh, Governor of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (through translator): The enemy is terrorizing a peaceful population. We will hold on and will win. All will be Ukraine.

Amna Nawaz:

President Vladimir Putin invaded to prevent that and signed laws this week that illegally annex four Ukrainian regions into Russia, including Zaporizhzhia. Europe's largest nuclear plant is there, seized by Russia in early March. The plant is still operated by Ukrainian engineers, but, yesterday, Russia's leader declared it was — quote — "federal property."

For months, Ukrainian and U.N. officials have warned of a potential nuclear catastrophe after explosions inside the plant. Today, the director of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said an accident was still possible.

Rafael Grossi, Director General, IAEA:

We are here in a conflict. We are here in a war. We want this war to stop. The war should stop immediately. And, of course, the position of the IAEA is that this facility is a Ukrainian facility.

Amna Nawaz:

Speaking in Prague to a new club of European nations, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's actions.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through translator):

Absolute meanness, absolute evil. There have already been thousands of manifestations of such evil. Unfortunately, there may be thousands more.

Amna Nawaz:

Russia's recent drafting of more than 200,000 reservists means newly mobilized soldiers like these are now training to join the war.

Yevgeny, Russian Reservist (through translator):

The guys are in combat mode. Everybody understands that the motherland asked for their help, and we will fulfill our duty.

Amna Nawaz:

Ukraine's military sees its duty as liberating territory seized by Moscow and unleashed a new counteroffensive in the southern Kherson region, where officials say they have retaken more than 150 square miles of territory in less than a week.

These soldiers near Kherson filmed the moment Russian forces surrendered to Ukrainian troops, but the bulk of their advances have been in the east, where Ukrainian troops last weekend claimed victory in Lyman. There, Russian troops retreated so quickly, they even left the bodies of their own dead lying on the ground.

The city is now in ruins after more than four months of Russian occupation. Hundreds of hungry residents who survived weeks sheltering inside have now emerged for the first time, desperate to receive humanitarian aid.

Mykola, Lyman Resident (through translator):

We want the war to come to an end, want the pharmacy and shops to start working as they used to do, as well as hospitals. Everything is destroyed and pillaged, a complete disaster.

Amna Nawaz:

A Russian disaster that has left millions of Ukrainians internally displaced in need of food and shelter and now heat for the long and hard winter to come.