Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia: Live updates

KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian military has launched a long-anticipated counterattack against occupying Russian forces, opening a crucial phase in the war aimed at restoring Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and preserving Western support in its fight against Moscow. Ukrainian troops on Wednesday night intensified their attacks on the front line in the country’s southeast, according to multiple individuals in the country’s armed forces, in a significant push toward Russian-occupied territory. Four members of the military, including multiple officers, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the battlefield developments.