Ukraine counter-offensive slower than expected, but too early to judge: Pentagon – National | 24CA News
Ukraine’s counter-offensive towards Russian forces goes extra slowly than some anticipated however it stays too early to attract conclusions about Kyiv’s prospects for battlefield positive aspects, a senior Pentagon official stated on Friday.
The United States and different allies have spent months constructing Ukraine a so-called “mountain of steel” of weaponry and coaching Ukrainian forces in mixed arms strategies to assist Kyiv pierce formidable Russian defenses throughout its counter-offensive.
But Russia additionally spent months digging into defensive positions, surrounding them with landmines and constructing closely armed fortifications which have made Ukrainian advances within the east and south gradual and bloody.
Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s high coverage advisor, informed reporters Russia was extra profitable digging in “than perhaps was fully appreciated.”
He expressed confidence Kyiv was doing its greatest in a troublesome combat.
“It’s too early to judge how the counter offensive is going one way or the other because we’re at the beginning of the middle,” Kahl stated on the Pentagon.
“They are still probing Russian lines (and) Russian areas for weak spots. And the real test will be when they identify those, how rapidly they’re able to exploit those weak spots.”
Kahl’s remarks got here as he introduced the availability of cluster munitions that the Pentagon hopes will assist guarantee Ukraine has sufficient firepower.
“We want to make sure that the Ukrainians have sufficient artillery to keep them in the fight in the context of the current counter-offensive, and because things are going a little slower than some had hoped,” he stated.
Some U.S. officers, talking on situation of anonymity, have expressed optimism that Kyiv has all of the weaponry it wants, together with mine-clearing line fees and mine-plows.
Ukraine additionally might have a singular alternative following final month’s armed mutiny by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, which U.S. officers say uncovered the corrosive results of President Vladimir Putin’s warfare in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated Prigozhin was nonetheless in Russia with hundreds of Wagner group fighters.
Kahl on Friday declined to invest about Prigozhin.
“Prigozhin: Where he is, what he’s up to, I have no idea,” he stated. “It’s clear that the Russian state is trying to systematically dismantle his empire and put piece parts in different places. What the ultimate end game Putin has for Prigozhin and the remnants of Wagner I think is still to be determined.”
–Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio
