John Kirby noted that Ukraine’s forces, as confirmed by the country’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with CNN, are indeed making advances in their efforts.
White House security spokesman John Kirby has reported significant developments on the ground in Ukraine over the past 72 hours, specifically in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia
However, John Kirby acknowledged that it has been a challenging battle, echoing the sentiment expressed by Kuleba. On the other hand, Russia has claimed to have captured strategic heights near the city of Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine, but these assertions remain unverified by independent sources. Mr. John Kirby emphasized that even Kyiv itself has acknowledged a slower pace in their push in the south, aimed at disrupting the Russian land corridor to Crimea. John Kirby mentioned that some success has been achieved against the second line of Russian defenses.
Ukraine’s military had previously announced the capture of the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Russia has concentrated its forces in the northeast to retake territory liberated by Ukraine east of Kharkiv. In the south, reports suggest that Russia has established an elaborate defensive system, including trenches, tunnels, minefields, and artillery positions.
Kyiv launched its counter-offensive with upgraded weaponry from Western allies, primarily US-made F-16 fighter jets, but progress has been slower than anticipated
Ukraine continues to request assistance from NATO countries, including tanks and de-mining equipment. At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain, Mr. Kuleba expressed irritation with critics of Ukraine’s counter-offensive and challenged them to experience the challenges firsthand.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin used a school lecture to emphasize Russia’s historical resilience and touted the nation’s invincibility, even in the face of ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, Russia announced the deployment of the Sarmat strategic nuclear missile system but provided no independent confirmation of its status.
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