Can Ukraine defeat Russia? In his nightly address on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday afternoon. The Ukrainian president also announced significant gains made by his military in the wake of the latest counteroffensive launched over the last week.
Zelenskyy described how, since the beginning of the month, his military had liberated huge swathes of Ukraine, totaling more than one thousand square kilometers.
“In total, more than a thousand square kilometers of our territory have been liberated since September 1,” Zelenskyy said. “I am grateful to everyone who made it happen! I am grateful to the army, intelligence officers, and special services for every Ukrainian flag that has been hoisted these days.”
Zelenskyy added that he discussed the needs of commanders of operational areas at a meeting on Thursday, and that “certain decisions” are being made. Meanwhile, all state activity will remain “focused on the needs of the front” and the protection of the Ukrainian people.
It’s a positive development for Ukraine, especially after Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in late August that people should not expect too much of the counteroffensive in the short term.
“Of course, many would like a large-scale offensive with news about the capture by our military of a settlement in an hour,” he said. “But we don’t fight like that…funds are limited.”
Within less than two weeks, Ukraine’s counteroffensive already has Russia rattled.
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Speaking during a press conference earlier that day, Ukraine’s Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov said that Ukrainian forces had now advanced to only 30 miles behind Russian lines, recapturing over 20 villages in the Kharkiv region in the process.
The general said that the gains were made in part thanks to Turkish-supplied TB2 Bayraktar drones – winged UAVs that can be used for launching strikes and reconnaissance and surveillance purposes.
“Enemy infantry and motorized artillery units unprotected by air defence systems become easy pretty for our Bayraktars, the quantity of which is always increasing, thanks to our volunteers,” Gromov said.
Russia was forced to acknowledge Ukraine’s gains and stressed that its military was at least able to prevent the loss of one town in the Kharkiv region.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to Attack Battery, 2-12th Field Artillery Battalion, Task Force Rock, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts registration and calibration for the M777 A2 Howitzer weapon system in Syria on Sept. 30, 2021. These exercises enable gun sections to deliver timely and accurate fires in support of TF Rock and their fight to defeat Daesh in designated areas of Syria. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Isaiah Scott). These are similar to the M777 pieces serving in Ukraine.
The news is significant for another reason, too – it’s the first time that Ukraine has offered any details of its counter-offensive. Since making the announcement last week, Ukrainian officials have kept quiet about progress over fears of alerting the Russians to their plans- and that silence appears to have paid off.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
Gary Jacobs
September 9, 2022 at 11:04 am
Apparently the Ukranians have reached at least the entrance to Kupiansk. Feeling so confident about their position that four soldiers stopped in broad daylight to unveil a Ukrainian flag and pose for a picture in front of the sign at the entrance to Kupiansk. It will be interesting to see if they stroll into the city largely uncontested, if they have to fight for it in urban combat, or surround it to squeeze until Russians surrender.
Russia is in big trouble in this sector, and it could have quite a ripple effect all the way down the GLOC to Izyum and even to the Donbas. Reports indicate Russians may simply abandon Lyman as Ukrainian forces are within in 2 miles on two sides and this cuts the main GLOC from the north. If that happens Ukraine can squeeze a massive amount of Russians from North and South who have little hope of Resupply except for small roads from the east. Then Ukrainian artillery and drones can use those Russian supply trucks for target practise.
As I recently mentioned to one of the resident Russian trolls that frequents this site, I have stocked up on popcorn to sit back and watch how they might try to spin the MASSIVE loses Russia is about to suffer. It’s happening even faster than I thought. I said 3-5 weeks. Turned out to be 3-5 days.
The actual photo is at the link below:
“photo with Ukrainian soldiers holding the flag near the entry sign to Kupiansk suggests they have already reached the outskirts of the city.
Kupiansk is the major logistics hub for the Russian Izium grouping of forces located to the south of Kupiansk and Balakliia. The sign is located more than 50 kilometers behind the Sep 6 frontline at the beginning of the Ukrainian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast. If Ukrainian forces take control over Kupiansk the main Russian supply line to Izium would be cut.”
https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/09/09/reportedly-ukrainian-soldiers-have-reached-outskirts-of-kupiansk-as-the-offensive-goes-on/
Scooter Van Neuter
September 9, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Russia’s inept command coupled with low morale and the lack of will to fight has created an unthinkable defeat for them – bravo!
Now, what does an increasingly desperate Putin do?
Alex was killed in an airstrike
September 9, 2022 at 4:07 pm
Military leadership has 3 main jobs: train, organize, and equip. Add to that: pay and feed, The russians have failed to do any of that. These next few weeks are going to be a bloodbath.