The alliance pushed an arbitrary deadline for the counterattack, they say, and then failed to fully prepare Ukrainian forces to carry it out. While there are numerous reasons for this relative lack of success, including the strength of Russian defenses, some experts are pointing towards a less obvious influence: NATO. However, unlike last year's advances, which saw Ukraine claim to have liberated 4,600 square miles between September 6 and October 2, the offensive beginning more than seven weeks ago has seen approximately 80 square miles and eight settlements recaptured, according to Kyiv. The speed of Ukrainian gains last year north of Kyiv soon after Russia's full-scale invasion, and then in September in the oblasts of Kherson and Kharkiv, raised expectations that Kyiv's latest push could retake a similar amount of Russian-occupied territory.Įquipment from allies including HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), Challenger 2 tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles added to the anticipation of what might happen when the counteroffensive finally started around June 4. Volodomyr Zelensky may get a Tinseltown welcome in Western capitals but the Ukrainian president has said the slow progress of Kyiv's counteroffensive shows the reality of war is not a Hollywood movie.
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