Ukrainian officials say at least 6 people are dead after Russian forces fired cruise missiles at the southern city of Odesa and shelled homes in the eastern Donetsk region.

Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian TV that its forces are continuing their offensive in 4 areas in the south and east.

Despite their small size, capturing the villages is an incursion into the first line of Russian defenses and could allow Ukrainian forces to try a deeper thrust into occupied areas.

Myroslav Semeniuk, spokesman for the brigade, told the Associated Press that an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where some 60 soldiers were holed up.

Zelensky said that ‘the counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in.’

The Russian Embassy in Washington announced Monday on Twitter its forces had ‘annihilated’ 8 German-made Leopard tanks, among the most advanced and powerful weapons NATO countries have provided to Ukraine.

Thousands of people are believed to be trapped by floodwaters across a swath of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian troops have started their long-expected counteroffensive