Ukraine has lifted the veil on a military operation that its commanders say helped win back some of the territory Russian forces had taken.

For months the effort was kept secret. Now commanders have allowed reporters into the bunkers and training grounds used to plan and prepare it, offering a rare look at how Ukrainian units organised a push that turned back part of Russia's gains.

The disclosure comes at a delicate time. The war is approaching its fifth year, Russian advances have slowed markedly, and the US midterm results have stirred cautious hope in Kyiv about renewed support, even as President Donald Trump talks of a deal with Moscow.

By showing that its forces can still retake ground, Kyiv appears keen to strengthen its hand both on the battlefield and in any negotiations over how the war might end. How lasting the gains prove, and whether they can be repeated elsewhere along a long front line, remains to be seen.