Ukraine Reports Limited Gains After Hard Battles Against Russian Forces

Mon Jul 03 2023
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KYIV: Ukraine announced on Monday that it had achieved limited gains in the southern and eastern regions during the past week’s difficult battles against Russia’s heavily fortified troops. In a separate development, Russia’s security service (FSB) disclosed the foiling of an assassination attempt on the head of Crimea, the southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

Despite facing significant resistance in their counteroffensive launched last month, Ukrainian troops have been calling for increased military support from Western allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr expressed optimism, stating, “Last week was difficult on the frontline. But we are making progress. We are moving forward, step by step!”

Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar reported that Ukrainian forces had recaptured nine square kilometers (four square miles) in the east and 28 square kilometers in the south during the previous week. Since the start of the counteroffensive, Ukrainian troops have regained control of over 158 square kilometers in the south.

Ukrainian forces have encountered formidable defensive positions established by Russian troops along the southern and eastern fronts. Malyar mentioned fierce battles taking place around the eastern flashpoint city of Bakhmut. Russian forces, on the other hand, have launched new assaults in recent days towards Svatove, located in the eastern Lugansk region.

War Between Russia and Ukraine

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated, “Ukraine did not reach its goals in any of the sectors,” claiming that nearly all Leopard tanks provided by Poland and Portugal had been destroyed. Shoigu also addressed the recent rebellion led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group, asserting that it had not affected military operations and crediting the loyalty of armed forces personnel to their oath and military duty.

Following the rebellion, the Kremlin gave Wagner fighters the options of signing contracts with the Russian defence ministry, returning to civilian life, or seeking exile in Moscow-allied Belarus. Russia stated that further mobilization to replace the departing Wagner troops was unnecessary.

Meanwhile, in Crimea, the Russian security service (FSB) announced the prevention of an assassination attempt on the Moscow-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov. The FSB detained a suspect, described as a Russian national recruited by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), while removing an explosive device.

Ukraine continues its fight to reclaim territories in the east and south, including the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. The recent surge in attacks on Russian-occupied territories preceded Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive launched last month with the aid of Western-made weapons.

Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration over the slow delivery of promised weapons from the West. Military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny voiced his dissatisfaction, stating, “It pisses me off” that some in the West complain about the slow progress in the push against Russian occupying forces. He also highlighted the vast disparity between the number of artillery shells available to Ukraine compared to Russia’s firepower.

Amid ongoing hostilities, a drone attack on a residential building in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, claimed the life of one individual on Monday, according to Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Additionally, PEN, a freedom of expression group, reported the death of a Ukrainian writer who was injured in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant in Kramatorsk last week. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including children, and left dozens wounded.

 

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