Russia loses the initiative as Ukraine’s southern counteroffensive unfolds

Ukrainian officials say a campaign to take back occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts has begun in secrecy, and urge civilians to leave those regions

The Russian defence ministry said it was redeploying troops to Ukraine’s southern regions of Kherson, Melitopol and Zaporizhia, as Ukraine appeared to launch a long-awaited counteroffensive to take them back in the 22nd week of the war.

The redeployment throws Russia onto the defensive five months after losing a fight for Kiyv and placing its military em…