Ukrainian flag raised over Balakliya town retaken from Russian forces

The Ukrainian flag has been raised over Balakliya, a Ukrainian city in the country's Kharkiv Region. A video released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence on Saturday showed Ukrainian soldiers, under the command of Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, raising the national flag outside the Balakliya District Administration building.

"Today we are completing the liberation of Balakliya. The first big city in our offensive. I am sure this is not the last city. Ahead of us is Kupiansk, which is already half taken by our troops. Ahead of us are Izium and many others," says Colonel General Syrskyi in the footage.

Oleh Syniehubov, the Ukrainian governor of Kharkiv, reported that Balakliya was recaptured by Ukrainian troops on Thursday following six months of Russian occupation. “Balakliya is Ukraine!” Syniehubov said in a post on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that troops had reclaimed more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region since the start of the counteroffensive.