Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “dozens of settlements” had been retaken in multiple regions claimed by Russia following recent votes decried by Kyiv and the West as illegitimate referendums.

In his nightly address on Tuesday, October 4, Zelensky singled out Kherson Oblast, where he named eight settlements northeast of the regional capital, Kherson, that he said had been retaken by Ukrainian forces.

“This is far from a complete list,” he said. “Our warriors do not stop.”

Earlier, the Russian-backed deputy head of the Kherson administration, Kirill Stremousov, dismissed reports Ukrainian forces had “invaded Kherson”.

“Everything is calm in Kherson and there is no panic,” Stremousov said. “Everything will be fine, and everything will be Russia, no matter what."

In his address, Zelensky noted he had held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “threat to any state in any part of the world.”

“After all, if someone tries to steal the territory of a neighbouring people, then some other may have a similar desire,” the Ukrainian president said.

He also said he had spoken with incoming Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, saying he looked forward to her official visit to Kyiv. Credit: Volodymyr Zelensky via Storyful