 Reuters journalists gained access to the newly liberated Ukrainian village of Neskine on Tuesday, confirming that Ukraine's forces have been advancing in the early phase of a counter-offensive against Russia's invasion. A Reuters team reached the ruined village in southeastern Ukraine days after Kiev said its forces had pushed out Russian troops. Russia has not officially acknowledged the loss of Neskine and several other villages. No villagers could be seen in Neskine, which had a population of several hundred before Russia's invasion in February 2022. Three days ago Russian forces were still here. We chased them out of Neskine. Glory to Ukraine, said Artem, a member of a Ukrainian territorial defense unit who gave no surname. These are Ukrainian lands. After seven months of a major Russian offensive that yielded scant gains, Ukraine began its counter-assault last week.