Day 222: Ukrainian Forces Claim New Gains; Russia to 'Consult' Locals on Borders of Annexation

Facts

• Following a Russian retreat in the Donetsk city of Lyman, followed by confirmation from Ukrainian troops that they have recaptured the city on Sunday, Ukrainian forces reportedly continued to press against Russian adversaries and reclaim its territory. This offensive was in the southern region of Kherson.
• While Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south has not enjoyed the same success as in the Kharkiv region, on Sunday, Ukrainian forces claimed to have broken through Russian defenses in the village of Khreshchenivka. In his nightly address, Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy also claimed to have retaken control of the nearby settlements of Arkhanhelske and Myroliubivka.
• Kirill Stremousov, a Russian-appointed official in the Kherson region, acknowledged that Ukrainian forces "have broken through a little deeper," but insisted that "everything is under control," and that Russia’s "defense system is working" in the region.
• The reported gains, which come in territories Russia has recently annexed in referendums not accepted by the international community, raise questions as to how the country will respond, given that Russian Pres. Putin said he would protect the territories using "all our forces and means."
• Further complicating matters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia "will continue to consult" with locals in annexed territories regarding the borders of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. This has created confusion as to whether Russia sees all of the regions as theirs, or whether their dominion is limited to territories it currently controls militarily.
• Meanwhile, Russian attacks were reported in the region of Zaporizhzhia, where one person was reported injured, in addition to the regions of Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk with no additional reports of civilian injuries. Pro-Russia separatists in Donetsk reported that two civilians were killed and three more were injured in Ukrainian shelling.

Sources: Guardian, Associated Press, Politico, Yahoo, and Ukrinform.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by PBS News Hour. This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup." This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by National Security Archive. NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.

Predictions