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Russia has suffered further military setbacks as Ukrainian forces retake more villages in Luhansk and Kherson. This comes as President Putin signed the final papers to annex four regions of Ukraine: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. On Wednesday the governor of Luhansk told the ´óÏó´«Ã½ that six villages in the region had been recaptured. Later, President Zelensky said three more villages in the southern region of Kherson had been retaken.

Alexander Rodnyansky is an adviser to President Zelensky. He tells Newshour how much territory Ukraine aims to recover before winter sets in. He says, "Our objective is to liberate as much land and territory as we can possibly do".

Mr Rodnyansky says according to US officials and independent observers, Ukraine could move into Crimea by the end of the year, such is the pace of their advance. He says, "It's really up to whoever is more effective, whoever has had the momentum, whoever has had the better morale, and that's obviously us".

(Photo: Ukrainian artillerymen in the military assembly centre check the weapons and equipment before they go on duty at the frontline in Kherson, 15 July, 2022. Credit: Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

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