Ukraine Says Counteroffensive Continues to Gain Ground
Ukraine's counteroffensive continues to push forward, allegedly advancing as much as 1.2 miles (2 km) in some areas of the front, Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said on Saturday.
Facts
- Ukraine's counteroffensive continues to push forward, allegedly advancing as much as 1.2 miles (2 km) in some areas of the front, Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said on Saturday.1
- Maliar said: "In the south, in almost all sections and directions where our units advance, they have tactical success. They are gradually moving forward." She added: "In the areas where we hold the defense, not a single position has been lost and the enemy has not been able to advance."1
- The comments were echoed by another Ukrainian deputy defense minister. This time Volodymyr Havrylov, who said: "Ukraine is seizing the initiative — Russia is defending. But for the build-up [of territory], we need weapons with a range of up to 200 km (124 miles)."2
- America's top military leader, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said Ukraine is "making steady progress" earlier in the week but warned of a "difficult" fight ahead.3
- Meanwhile, in his nightly address, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy made no claim to advances but said: "Our advancement is the most important thing. Each of our soldiers, each of our new steps, and each meter of Ukrainian land freed from the enemy is the most important thing."4
- While exactly how much territory Ukraine has recaptured is contested, it claims to have taken at least 7 settlements and 38 square miles of territory. Nonetheless, analysts say Ukraine's biggest challenges remain ahead of them, as they've yet to reach the heaviest of Russia's defense fortifications set back some distance from the front lines.3
Sources: 1UKRINFORM (a), 2UKRINFORM (b), 3Al Jazeera, and 4President.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. This is a very difficult fight, one that will be costly and that will not end quickly overnight. Nonetheless, the important thing is that Ukraine continues to advance. Western allies will continue to support Ukraine in this struggle against Russian aggression for as long as necessary.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. While Russia's defense industry grows every day, Ukraine becomes more and more reliant on Western weapons shipments as it produces no weapons of its own. These shipments will soon run dry, and Russia will ultimately achieve the aims of its special military operation.
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