Ukraine has been tight-lipped about the operational details of the offensive that began on Monday, but defense analysts say the mission will be a pivotal moment for the nation in the so-far six-month war.
Read more: Ukraine war: South’s counterattack against Russia has begun, military says
read more
War in Ukraine: South’s counteroffensive against Russia has begun, military says
“This is everything to them,” said Andrew Rasiulis, a defense expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “Ukraine’s current political goal is the forced military expulsion of all Russian forces from occupied Ukraine, including Crimea. … He must now physically launch a substantial counterattack to force the Russian military to leave all of Ukraine. … That is why this attack is fundamental.” Story continues below ad After weeks of buildup, Ukraine’s southern military command said Monday it had launched a counteroffensive in the region. Fighting has been concentrated in the east since April, after Russia failed to topple Kyiv in its wide-ranging invasion that began on February 24. Since then, war has raged in the Donbass, where many cities have fallen into Russian hands, including Luhansk and Mariupol. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had taken over 20 percent of his nation. This chart from the UK Ministry of Defense shows Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine and attack positions, as of September 1. British Ministry of Defense via Twitter Ukraine has regularly declared its intention to retake its south. Zelensky said in his late-night speech on Monday that Kiev’s goal is to push Russia out of the country and retake Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Story continues below ad As fighting continues in cities such as Donetsk and Kharkiv, operational details about the true scale of the counteroffensive have been scarce. However, Ukraine has acknowledged that its offensive includes the southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russia in the early days of the war. For weeks, Ukrainian forces have targeted ammunition depots in the area and major bridges across the Dnipro River that are vital for supplying Russian troops. Ukraine also said it destroyed a floating roof crossing the Dnipro this week that Russian forces were building and hit a dozen command posts in various regions of Kherson with artillery fire. 2:30 Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine – August 24, 2022 Both sides have claimed successes on the battlefield. Moscow denied reports of Ukrainian advances and said its troops had destroyed Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s southern military command said Thursday it would not immediately name settlements in the south it had recaptured to avoid provoking Russian raids against them. Story continues below ad “This demonstrates to the Ukrainian population and Ukraine’s allies that Ukraine is no longer fighting a purely defensive battle and is absorbing what the Russians are bringing. They’ve now assembled enough forces with enough confidence, enough resources to go and take offensive action,” said Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel and former armor officer who commanded a Canadian combat team in Afghanistan. “To have an enemy that you thought in February was going to be an easy victory, then it met stiff resistance, got bogged down and suddenly (Ukraine) … was able to go on the offensive – that sends a message.” Recapturing Kherson would be important for Ukraine, said Dennis Thomson, a retired Canadian general and former commander of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar. Trending Stories
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Kherson is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. It is an important economic hub located north of the Crimean peninsula and has coastlines on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It has been considered one of Moscow’s most prized possessions since the full-scale war began. Story continues below ad The Ukrainian city of Kherson is shown here on a map created by Global News. Kherson, located in southern Ukraine, is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. Global News Graphic The city is located next to the Dnipro River, which runs through Ukraine and effectively cuts the nation in two. Kherson is also a source of fresh water supply for Crimea, Thompson said. “If they manage to take Kherson, then that will be important on an operational or strategic level,” he said. “In other words, it will influence those who might think we’re stuck in a frozen conflict and it’s not going to go forward, rather that this thing can be solved on the battlefield, and that’s why it’s important if they can take Kherson” .
Read more: War in Ukraine: Kherson in focus as counterattack against Russia begins
Kherson’s proximity to Crimea also has value, Popov said. Story continues below ad “It has not only tactical value to deny the Russians the ability to easily cross the river at this location and to obstruct the lines of communication to advance further into Ukraine,” he said. “But there’s this political significance that we’re going to retake this regional capital that the Russians took from us, and we’re going to take it back and we’re going to do it near Crimea.” 1:46Ukraine soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ Ukrainian soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ – June 22, 2022 On Wednesday, Ukraine said it had “successes” in three areas of Kherson, but would not provide further details. Heavy fighting has been reported across the region and retaking the city will not be a “cake walk” for Ukraine, Rasioulis said. “The Russians have to keep this to protect Crimea,” he said. “The Ukrainians … must take Kherson to deny the Russians this objective.” Story continues below ad It is unclear how long the counteroffensive will last, but Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksii Arestovich said Thursday it would be a “very slow process, because we value people.” With word circulating for weeks of a counterattack, Ukraine does not have the element of surprise on its side, nor are there reports of overwhelming forces in the region, Rasioulis said.
Read more: UN team reaches Ukraine nuclear plant despite shelling
Ukraine is also not going to attempt to retake cities the same way the Russians did, Thompson said. “In other words, they’re not going to crush it with artillery,” he said. “They’re going to have to clean it up house-by-house, street-by-street, block-by-block in a way that causes the least collateral damage possible, and that’s going to take time.” Story continues below ad All signs point to another bitter battle between the two nations, analysts say, which calls into question the West’s continued support for Ukraine. Western nations have said they will be there to support Kyiv throughout the war. Ottawa itself has committed billions in economic and military aid to Ukraine. 2:04 EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ – August 3, 2022 But in Europe, where an energy crisis looms ahead of winter due to reduced supplies of Russian natural gas, support has not been steady. In the spring, the EU took weeks to reach a consensus on a partial embargo on Russian oil entering by sea, but allowed a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. On Wednesday, the EU agreed to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the bloc, but stopped short of a blanket ban on tourists. Ukraine potentially risks some of that support if its counteroffensive does not yield positive results, Popov said. Story continues below ad “No military operation is without risk. In this case, Ukraine’s strategic planners and key leaders said it was worth the risk,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to see any kind of breakthrough or war-ending achievements in this counteroffensive, but it’s these small incremental steps, the incremental victories, the chewing of the will of the Russians to continue the occupation, that could be for the benefit of Ukraine”. — with files from The…
title: “Ukraine S Counterattack Against Russia Begins This Is Everything For Them National Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-02” author: “Dennis Martinez”
Ukraine has been tight-lipped about the operational details of the offensive that began on Monday, but defense analysts say the mission will be a pivotal moment for the nation in the so-far six-month war.
Read more: Ukraine war: South’s counterattack against Russia has begun, military says
read more
War in Ukraine: South’s counteroffensive against Russia has begun, military says
“This is everything to them,” said Andrew Rasiulis, a defense expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “Ukraine’s current political goal is the forced military expulsion of all Russian forces from occupied Ukraine, including Crimea. … He must now physically launch a substantial counterattack to force the Russian military to leave all of Ukraine. … That is why this attack is fundamental.” Story continues below ad After weeks of buildup, Ukraine’s southern military command said Monday it had launched a counteroffensive in the region. Fighting has been concentrated in the east since April, after Russia failed to topple Kyiv in its wide-ranging invasion that began on February 24. Since then, war has raged in the Donbass, where many cities have fallen into Russian hands, including Luhansk and Mariupol. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had taken over 20 percent of his nation. This chart from the UK Ministry of Defense shows Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine and attack positions, as of September 1. British Ministry of Defense via Twitter Ukraine has regularly declared its intention to retake its south. Zelensky said in his late-night speech on Monday that Kiev’s goal is to push Russia out of the country and retake Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Story continues below ad As fighting continues in cities such as Donetsk and Kharkiv, operational details about the true scale of the counteroffensive have been scarce. However, Ukraine has acknowledged that its offensive includes the southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russia in the early days of the war. For weeks, Ukrainian forces have targeted ammunition depots in the area and major bridges across the Dnipro River that are vital for supplying Russian troops. Ukraine also said it destroyed a floating roof crossing the Dnipro this week that Russian forces were building and hit a dozen command posts in various regions of Kherson with artillery fire. 2:30 Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine – August 24, 2022 Both sides have claimed successes on the battlefield. Moscow denied reports of Ukrainian advances and said its troops had destroyed Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s southern military command said Thursday it would not immediately name settlements in the south it had recaptured to avoid provoking Russian raids against them. Story continues below ad “This demonstrates to the Ukrainian population and Ukraine’s allies that Ukraine is no longer fighting a purely defensive battle and is absorbing what the Russians are bringing. They’ve now assembled enough forces with enough confidence, enough resources to go and take offensive action,” said Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel and former armor officer who commanded a Canadian combat team in Afghanistan. “To have an enemy that you thought in February was going to be an easy victory, then it met stiff resistance, got bogged down and suddenly (Ukraine) … was able to go on the offensive – that sends a message.” Recapturing Kherson would be important for Ukraine, said Dennis Thomson, a retired Canadian general and former commander of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar. Trending Stories
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Kherson is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. It is an important economic hub located north of the Crimean peninsula and has coastlines on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It has been considered one of Moscow’s most prized possessions since the full-scale war began. Story continues below ad The Ukrainian city of Kherson is shown here on a map created by Global News. Kherson, located in southern Ukraine, is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. Global News Graphic The city is located next to the Dnipro River, which runs through Ukraine and effectively cuts the nation in two. Kherson is also a source of fresh water supply for Crimea, Thompson said. “If they manage to take Kherson, then that will be important on an operational or strategic level,” he said. “In other words, it will influence those who might think we’re stuck in a frozen conflict and it’s not going to go forward, rather that this thing can be solved on the battlefield, and that’s why it’s important if they can take Kherson” .
Read more: War in Ukraine: Kherson in focus as counterattack against Russia begins
Kherson’s proximity to Crimea also has value, Popov said. Story continues below ad “It has not only tactical value to deny the Russians the ability to easily cross the river at this location and to obstruct the lines of communication to advance further into Ukraine,” he said. “But there’s this political significance that we’re going to retake this regional capital that the Russians took from us, and we’re going to take it back and we’re going to do it near Crimea.” 1:46Ukraine soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ Ukrainian soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ – June 22, 2022 On Wednesday, Ukraine said it had “successes” in three areas of Kherson, but would not provide further details. Heavy fighting has been reported across the region and retaking the city will not be a “cake walk” for Ukraine, Rasioulis said. “The Russians have to keep this to protect Crimea,” he said. “The Ukrainians … must take Kherson to deny the Russians this objective.” Story continues below ad It is unclear how long the counteroffensive will last, but Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksii Arestovich said Thursday it would be a “very slow process, because we value people.” With word circulating for weeks of a counterattack, Ukraine does not have the element of surprise on its side, nor are there reports of overwhelming forces in the region, Rasioulis said.
Read more: UN team reaches Ukraine nuclear plant despite shelling
Ukraine is also not going to attempt to retake cities the same way the Russians did, Thompson said. “In other words, they’re not going to crush it with artillery,” he said. “They’re going to have to clean it up house-by-house, street-by-street, block-by-block in a way that causes the least collateral damage possible, and that’s going to take time.” Story continues below ad All signs point to another bitter battle between the two nations, analysts say, which calls into question the West’s continued support for Ukraine. Western nations have said they will be there to support Kyiv throughout the war. Ottawa itself has committed billions in economic and military aid to Ukraine. 2:04 EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ – August 3, 2022 But in Europe, where an energy crisis looms ahead of winter due to reduced supplies of Russian natural gas, support has not been steady. In the spring, the EU took weeks to reach a consensus on a partial embargo on Russian oil entering by sea, but allowed a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. On Wednesday, the EU agreed to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the bloc, but stopped short of a blanket ban on tourists. Ukraine potentially risks some of that support if its counteroffensive does not yield positive results, Popov said. Story continues below ad “No military operation is without risk. In this case, Ukraine’s strategic planners and key leaders said it was worth the risk,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to see any kind of breakthrough or war-ending achievements in this counteroffensive, but it’s these small incremental steps, the incremental victories, the chewing of the will of the Russians to continue the occupation, that could be for the benefit of Ukraine”. — with files from The…
title: “Ukraine S Counterattack Against Russia Begins This Is Everything For Them National Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-03” author: “Phillip Escobar”
Ukraine has been tight-lipped about the operational details of the offensive that began on Monday, but defense analysts say the mission will be a pivotal moment for the nation in the so-far six-month war.
Read more: Ukraine war: South’s counterattack against Russia has begun, military says
read more
War in Ukraine: South’s counteroffensive against Russia has begun, military says
“This is everything to them,” said Andrew Rasiulis, a defense expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “Ukraine’s current political goal is the forced military expulsion of all Russian forces from occupied Ukraine, including Crimea. … He must now physically launch a substantial counterattack to force the Russian military to leave all of Ukraine. … That is why this attack is fundamental.” Story continues below ad After weeks of buildup, Ukraine’s southern military command said Monday it had launched a counteroffensive in the region. Fighting has been concentrated in the east since April, after Russia failed to topple Kyiv in its wide-ranging invasion that began on February 24. Since then, war has raged in the Donbass, where many cities have fallen into Russian hands, including Luhansk and Mariupol. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had taken over 20 percent of his nation. This chart from the UK Ministry of Defense shows Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine and attack positions, as of September 1. British Ministry of Defense via Twitter Ukraine has regularly declared its intention to retake its south. Zelensky said in his late-night speech on Monday that Kiev’s goal is to push Russia out of the country and retake Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Story continues below ad As fighting continues in cities such as Donetsk and Kharkiv, operational details about the true scale of the counteroffensive have been scarce. However, Ukraine has acknowledged that its offensive includes the southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russia in the early days of the war. For weeks, Ukrainian forces have targeted ammunition depots in the area and major bridges across the Dnipro River that are vital for supplying Russian troops. Ukraine also said it destroyed a floating roof crossing the Dnipro this week that Russian forces were building and hit a dozen command posts in various regions of Kherson with artillery fire. 2:30 Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine – August 24, 2022 Both sides have claimed successes on the battlefield. Moscow denied reports of Ukrainian advances and said its troops had destroyed Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s southern military command said Thursday it would not immediately name settlements in the south it had recaptured to avoid provoking Russian raids against them. Story continues below ad “This demonstrates to the Ukrainian population and Ukraine’s allies that Ukraine is no longer fighting a purely defensive battle and is absorbing what the Russians are bringing. They’ve now assembled enough forces with enough confidence, enough resources to go and take offensive action,” said Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel and former armor officer who commanded a Canadian combat team in Afghanistan. “To have an enemy that you thought in February was going to be an easy victory, then it met stiff resistance, got bogged down and suddenly (Ukraine) … was able to go on the offensive – that sends a message.” Recapturing Kherson would be important for Ukraine, said Dennis Thomson, a retired Canadian general and former commander of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar. Trending Stories
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Kherson is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. It is an important economic hub located north of the Crimean peninsula and has coastlines on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It has been considered one of Moscow’s most prized possessions since the full-scale war began. Story continues below ad The Ukrainian city of Kherson is shown here on a map created by Global News. Kherson, located in southern Ukraine, is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. Global News Graphic The city is located next to the Dnipro River, which runs through Ukraine and effectively cuts the nation in two. Kherson is also a source of fresh water supply for Crimea, Thompson said. “If they manage to take Kherson, then that will be important on an operational or strategic level,” he said. “In other words, it will influence those who might think we’re stuck in a frozen conflict and it’s not going to go forward, rather that this thing can be solved on the battlefield, and that’s why it’s important if they can take Kherson” .
Read more: War in Ukraine: Kherson in focus as counterattack against Russia begins
Kherson’s proximity to Crimea also has value, Popov said. Story continues below ad “It has not only tactical value to deny the Russians the ability to easily cross the river at this location and to obstruct the lines of communication to advance further into Ukraine,” he said. “But there’s this political significance that we’re going to retake this regional capital that the Russians took from us, and we’re going to take it back and we’re going to do it near Crimea.” 1:46Ukraine soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ Ukrainian soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ – June 22, 2022 On Wednesday, Ukraine said it had “successes” in three areas of Kherson, but would not provide further details. Heavy fighting has been reported across the region and retaking the city will not be a “cake walk” for Ukraine, Rasioulis said. “The Russians have to keep this to protect Crimea,” he said. “The Ukrainians … must take Kherson to deny the Russians this objective.” Story continues below ad It is unclear how long the counteroffensive will last, but Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksii Arestovich said Thursday it would be a “very slow process, because we value people.” With word circulating for weeks of a counterattack, Ukraine does not have the element of surprise on its side, nor are there reports of overwhelming forces in the region, Rasioulis said.
Read more: UN team reaches Ukraine nuclear plant despite shelling
Ukraine is also not going to attempt to retake cities the same way the Russians did, Thompson said. “In other words, they’re not going to crush it with artillery,” he said. “They’re going to have to clean it up house-by-house, street-by-street, block-by-block in a way that causes the least collateral damage possible, and that’s going to take time.” Story continues below ad All signs point to another bitter battle between the two nations, analysts say, which calls into question the West’s continued support for Ukraine. Western nations have said they will be there to support Kyiv throughout the war. Ottawa itself has committed billions in economic and military aid to Ukraine. 2:04 EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ – August 3, 2022 But in Europe, where an energy crisis looms ahead of winter due to reduced supplies of Russian natural gas, support has not been steady. In the spring, the EU took weeks to reach a consensus on a partial embargo on Russian oil entering by sea, but allowed a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. On Wednesday, the EU agreed to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the bloc, but stopped short of a blanket ban on tourists. Ukraine potentially risks some of that support if its counteroffensive does not yield positive results, Popov said. Story continues below ad “No military operation is without risk. In this case, Ukraine’s strategic planners and key leaders said it was worth the risk,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to see any kind of breakthrough or war-ending achievements in this counteroffensive, but it’s these small incremental steps, the incremental victories, the chewing of the will of the Russians to continue the occupation, that could be for the benefit of Ukraine”. — with files from The…
title: “Ukraine S Counterattack Against Russia Begins This Is Everything For Them National Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Joseph Flores”
Ukraine has been tight-lipped about the operational details of the offensive that began on Monday, but defense analysts say the mission will be a pivotal moment for the nation in the so-far six-month war.
Read more: Ukraine war: South’s counterattack against Russia has begun, military says
read more
War in Ukraine: South’s counteroffensive against Russia has begun, military says
“This is everything to them,” said Andrew Rasiulis, a defense expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “Ukraine’s current political goal is the forced military expulsion of all Russian forces from occupied Ukraine, including Crimea. … He must now physically launch a substantial counterattack to force the Russian military to leave all of Ukraine. … That is why this attack is fundamental.” Story continues below ad After weeks of buildup, Ukraine’s southern military command said Monday it had launched a counteroffensive in the region. Fighting has been concentrated in the east since April, after Russia failed to topple Kyiv in its wide-ranging invasion that began on February 24. Since then, war has raged in the Donbass, where many cities have fallen into Russian hands, including Luhansk and Mariupol. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had taken over 20 percent of his nation. This chart from the UK Ministry of Defense shows Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine and attack positions, as of September 1. British Ministry of Defense via Twitter Ukraine has regularly declared its intention to retake its south. Zelensky said in his late-night speech on Monday that Kiev’s goal is to push Russia out of the country and retake Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Story continues below ad As fighting continues in cities such as Donetsk and Kharkiv, operational details about the true scale of the counteroffensive have been scarce. However, Ukraine has acknowledged that its offensive includes the southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russia in the early days of the war. For weeks, Ukrainian forces have targeted ammunition depots in the area and major bridges across the Dnipro River that are vital for supplying Russian troops. Ukraine also said it destroyed a floating roof crossing the Dnipro this week that Russian forces were building and hit a dozen command posts in various regions of Kherson with artillery fire. 2:30 Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine Putin’s plans failed, resulting in growing support for Ukraine – August 24, 2022 Both sides have claimed successes on the battlefield. Moscow denied reports of Ukrainian advances and said its troops had destroyed Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s southern military command said Thursday it would not immediately name settlements in the south it had recaptured to avoid provoking Russian raids against them. Story continues below ad “This demonstrates to the Ukrainian population and Ukraine’s allies that Ukraine is no longer fighting a purely defensive battle and is absorbing what the Russians are bringing. They’ve now assembled enough forces with enough confidence, enough resources to go and take offensive action,” said Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel and former armor officer who commanded a Canadian combat team in Afghanistan. “To have an enemy that you thought in February was going to be an easy victory, then it met stiff resistance, got bogged down and suddenly (Ukraine) … was able to go on the offensive – that sends a message.” Recapturing Kherson would be important for Ukraine, said Dennis Thomson, a retired Canadian general and former commander of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar. Trending Stories
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Kherson is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. It is an important economic hub located north of the Crimean peninsula and has coastlines on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It has been considered one of Moscow’s most prized possessions since the full-scale war began. Story continues below ad The Ukrainian city of Kherson is shown here on a map created by Global News. Kherson, located in southern Ukraine, is the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture since it invaded six months ago. Global News Graphic The city is located next to the Dnipro River, which runs through Ukraine and effectively cuts the nation in two. Kherson is also a source of fresh water supply for Crimea, Thompson said. “If they manage to take Kherson, then that will be important on an operational or strategic level,” he said. “In other words, it will influence those who might think we’re stuck in a frozen conflict and it’s not going to go forward, rather that this thing can be solved on the battlefield, and that’s why it’s important if they can take Kherson” .
Read more: War in Ukraine: Kherson in focus as counterattack against Russia begins
Kherson’s proximity to Crimea also has value, Popov said. Story continues below ad “It has not only tactical value to deny the Russians the ability to easily cross the river at this location and to obstruct the lines of communication to advance further into Ukraine,” he said. “But there’s this political significance that we’re going to retake this regional capital that the Russians took from us, and we’re going to take it back and we’re going to do it near Crimea.” 1:46Ukraine soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ Ukrainian soldiers launch rocket launchers and capture Russian attack helicopter as ‘trophy’ – June 22, 2022 On Wednesday, Ukraine said it had “successes” in three areas of Kherson, but would not provide further details. Heavy fighting has been reported across the region and retaking the city will not be a “cake walk” for Ukraine, Rasioulis said. “The Russians have to keep this to protect Crimea,” he said. “The Ukrainians … must take Kherson to deny the Russians this objective.” Story continues below ad It is unclear how long the counteroffensive will last, but Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksii Arestovich said Thursday it would be a “very slow process, because we value people.” With word circulating for weeks of a counterattack, Ukraine does not have the element of surprise on its side, nor are there reports of overwhelming forces in the region, Rasioulis said.
Read more: UN team reaches Ukraine nuclear plant despite shelling
Ukraine is also not going to attempt to retake cities the same way the Russians did, Thompson said. “In other words, they’re not going to crush it with artillery,” he said. “They’re going to have to clean it up house-by-house, street-by-street, block-by-block in a way that causes the least collateral damage possible, and that’s going to take time.” Story continues below ad All signs point to another bitter battle between the two nations, analysts say, which calls into question the West’s continued support for Ukraine. Western nations have said they will be there to support Kyiv throughout the war. Ottawa itself has committed billions in economic and military aid to Ukraine. 2:04 EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ EU energy at risk as Russia says delivery of Canadian-repaired pipeline turbine ‘impossible’ – August 3, 2022 But in Europe, where an energy crisis looms ahead of winter due to reduced supplies of Russian natural gas, support has not been steady. In the spring, the EU took weeks to reach a consensus on a partial embargo on Russian oil entering by sea, but allowed a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. On Wednesday, the EU agreed to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the bloc, but stopped short of a blanket ban on tourists. Ukraine potentially risks some of that support if its counteroffensive does not yield positive results, Popov said. Story continues below ad “No military operation is without risk. In this case, Ukraine’s strategic planners and key leaders said it was worth the risk,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to see any kind of breakthrough or war-ending achievements in this counteroffensive, but it’s these small incremental steps, the incremental victories, the chewing of the will of the Russians to continue the occupation, that could be for the benefit of Ukraine”. — with files from The…
