In a renewed display of discord over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces as a resounding failure, contradicting claims made by Kyiv’s Ministry of Defence. The situation on the front lines in Ukraine remains highly contentious, with conflicting narratives emanating from both sides of the conflict. President Putin’s statement came during a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, as the world watches with bated breath for any sign of progress towards a peaceful resolution.
Putin Calls Ukrainian Counteroffensive a Failure:
Putin’s assertion that Ukraine’s counteroffensive “has failed, not stalled” marked a further escalation in the war of words between Moscow and Kyiv. Russian state news agency TASS reported Putin’s statement, in which he expressed hope that the situation would remain unchanged. This has been a recurring theme for the Russian leader, who has consistently maintained that Ukraine has made no substantive progress against Russian-held territories.
Despite Putin’s claims, independent sources have reported significant issues plaguing Russian forces on the front lines. Most notably, there have been reports of a severe shortage of artillery shells, which has forced Russian military planners to prioritize accuracy over the traditional volume of shells fired during battles.
Ukraine Reports Gains in Eastern Donetsk Region:
Contrary to Putin’s narrative, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar reported that Ukrainian forces had retaken approximately 3 square kilometers (1.16 square miles) of land in the past week around the strategically significant city of Bakhmut, which fell under Russian control in May following months of intense fighting. Since initiating their counteroffensive in early June, Ukrainian forces have now reclaimed around 47 square kilometers (29 miles) of territory in the vicinity of Bakhmut, according to Maliar’s statement on the Telegram messaging app.
Maliar also alluded to unspecified “success” in the direction of the villages of Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka in the southern Zaporizhia region. However, no specific details were provided regarding these reported gains.
Analysis: A Complex Picture Emerges from the Eastern Front:
While reports of Ukrainian gains suggest progress in the conflict, the situation remains far from clear-cut. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington, DC-based think tank, revealed that Ukraine’s infantry had advanced in the western region of Zaporizhia, moving beyond the initial line of Russian defenses, which included anti-tank ditches and obstacles known as “dragon’s teeth.” Yet, without the presence of Ukrainian heavy equipment in these areas, the ISW refrained from definitively stating that Kyiv had breached Russian defenses in western Zaporizhia.
The ISW posited that Ukrainian forces likely intended to hold these positions, emphasizing that they were not prepared to conclude that Ukrainian forces had successfully penetrated the Russian defensive layer in the absence of observed Ukrainian heavy equipment.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian officials have pushed back against international criticism, particularly from Western media, regarding the perceived slowness of their counteroffensive and alleged poor tactical choices. They contend that the presence of vast Russian minefields and trenches along the front line necessitates a cautious and deliberate approach to protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba bluntly responded to critics, stating, “shut up” to those questioning Ukraine’s tactics.
Videos posted on the Ukrainian presidential website showcased President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visits to troops in the eastern Donetsk region, where Bakhmut is situated, as well as in the Zaporizhia region, where Ukrainian forces are striving to advance southward toward the Sea of Azov. These visits underscored the nation’s determination to press forward in the face of complex challenges on the Eastern Front.
