Ukraine is retaking ground it lost at the start of the war, forcing Russia back from some key targets

• Ukraine has pushed back Russian forces in some areas, retaking ground it lost early in the war.
• The UK's Ministry of Defence said on Friday Ukraine had retaken some areas it lost around Kyiv.

Ukraine has been pushing back against Russian forces, retaking areas that it lost to Russia earlier in the war.

The UK's Ministry of Defence said on Friday that Ukraine had reoccupied some areas it lost around Kyiv, the country's capital.

"Ukrainian counter-attacks, and Russian Forces falling back on overextended supply lines, has allowed Ukraine to re-occupy towns and defensive positions up to 35 kilometers east of Kyiv," officials wrote in an intelligence briefing.

It's part of a wider trend of Ukrainian counterattacks seen in several directions in recent days.

Ukraine retakes towns

Ukraine's army said on Tuesday that the town of Makariv, west of Kyiv, was back under Ukrainian control, writing that the "state flag of Ukraine was raised over the city of Makariv."

The town is part of the fiercely contested suburban areas around Kyiv, where Russia made large early advances but then started to suffer problems.

Elsewhere in the country, Ukraine has forced Russian troops back in their attempts to push toward the key port city of Odesa in the southwest of the country.

Ukraine's counteroffensive at the port city of Mykolaiv pushed Russian forces back earlier this month, turning what was once a place on the front lines into a relieved city where life looks more normal.

The Ukrainian army and volunteers also pushed back Russian troops up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) at the town of Voznesensk, another settlement on the way to Odesa, including by blowing up a bridge.

Ukraine has also been fighting Russia in Kyiv's suburbs, including blocking them from seizing Irpin, about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the city center.

A slow process for Russia

Intelligence from the US, the UK, and other Western countries said Russia expected to quickly capture Ukraine.

Instead, since its invasion began on February 24, Russia has struggled against strong Ukrainian resistance, as well as what appear to be internal issues with logistics and planning.

Russia has repeatedly said that its invasion of Ukraine is going according to plan.