Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly said he will try to deliver results in the fight against Russia by the end of the year.

The president spoke in an interview with Reuters news agency on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine's counteroffensive is going well.

He said his country has a plan even though it cannot disclose all details. He was quoted as saying, "We have some slow steps forward on the south, also we have steps on the east." As an example for the advancement, he cited achievements in the Kherson region in the south.

He said the Ukrainians will try to show battlefield results this year, adding that is very important, because the country loses people every day.

Some Western media say the conflict between Israel and Hamas has reduced the international community's interest in the situation in Ukraine, possibly affecting military support by the West.

Observers say President Zelenskyy's comments are also aimed at securing continued support for his country.

In the battle, the Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that a Russian missile hit a Liberian-flagged civilian ship at a Black Sea port in the southern region of Odesa. They said one person was killed, and several people including three Philippine crewmembers were injured in the attack. The military denounced Russian forces for continuing what they call terror attacks targeting civilian ships.