The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated the Ukrainian army has the opportunity to return territories on the west bank of the Dnieper River in Kherson.

"The most important thing is that the Ukrainians believe they can do it," Austin said at a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday, after meeting with South Korea's defense minister. 

The American official stressed that Ukrainians “are methodically and effectively making efforts” to regain their territories.

The Ukrainian army launched a counter-offensive in the Russian-occupied Kherson region in the summer and has liberated dozens of settlements so far.