Ukraine claims it will recapture Kherson by September with aid of western weapons

Aide in southern region says a turning point' has been reached, heralding switch from defensive moves to long-awaited counterattack

Ukrainian military officials have claimed a turning point" in the battle to retake the southern region of Kherson, saying they will use western weapons to liberate by September the first major city captured by Russian forces.

Sergiy Khlan, an aide to the administrative head of the Kherson region, said in an interview with Ukrainian television on Sunday: We can say that a turning point has occurred on the battlefield. We are switching from defensive to counteroffensive actions."