American officials are reportedly hindering the progress of the Ukrainian military by publicly criticizing the slow pace of Kiev’s counteroffensive against Russian forces. White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, expressed his concern on Friday, stating that the anonymous officials’ comments are not helpful to Ukraine’s battlefield effort.
The Ukrainian military has been engaged in a long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces for almost three months. However, according to Russian figures, Kiev has suffered significant casualties, with the loss of 43,000 men in the first two months of the operation. Despite these losses, Ukrainian forces have been unable to breach the multiple layers of trenches and fortifications laid by Russia along the Kherson-Donetsk frontline.
Media reports have recently surfaced, indicating that Washington considers the Ukrainian counteroffensive a failure. These reports attribute the perceived failure to misallocation of troops, wastage of ammunition, and the refusal to follow American military tactics. These claims have been made by anonymous US officials.
John Kirby emphasized that the Ukrainians have made progress on the battlefield, despite the challenges they face. He stated that Ukrainian troops have achieved some success against the second line of Russian defenses in the Zaporozhye sector of the front. This progress is likely attributed to the intense fighting in the village of Rabotino, which has reportedly changed hands several times over the past week. While Ukrainian officials claim to hold the village, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported repelling multiple attacks by Ukrainian brigades in that area.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba expressed optimism about the counteroffensive on Friday, stating that Ukrainian forces have entrenched themselves on the flanks of Robotyne, which will open the way to Tokmak, Melitopol, and eventually the administrative border with Crimea. However, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar admitted that Ukrainian forces have faced another line of Russian fortifications, hindering their progress.
Kuleba’s frustration and anger were evident when he stated that criticizing the slow pace of the counteroffensive is equal to disrespecting the sacrifices made by Ukrainian soldiers. He urged critics to come to Ukraine and try to liberate even a small area of land themselves before making judgment. Kuleba also called on Western powers to provide more support to Ukraine, including missiles, armored vehicles, and air defense systems.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has had severe humanitarian implications, with many civilian casualties and a significant displacement of people. It is crucial for all parties involved to continue diplomatic efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensure the well-being of the affected population.
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