Though the Russians have made incremental features within the Donbas, it doesn’t seem that they’ve encircled town of Lysychansk, a senior Protection Division official mentioned in the present day.
The Ukrainians are placing up stiff resistance in and round Lysychansk, the official mentioned, noting that the realm the place the preventing is happening is a really small space.
Only a brief distance from Lysychansk is town of Syevyerodonetsk, which Russian forces now occupy.
“From a navy perspective, what I might say is [that] the small variety of Ukrainians that held the Russians at Syevyerodonetsk for so long as they did is actually one thing I feel we’ll most likely all research sooner or later,” the official mentioned.
“And when [Ukrainian forces] selected to go away Syevyerodonetsk, they selected to do [it] of their very own accord and to provide that up with a purpose to transfer to raised ready areas for the persevering with of that protection,” the official mentioned.
For the little floor the Russians have managed to achieve, they’re dropping a lot of their forces, the official mentioned. “The Ukrainians are making them pay for a really small piece of floor.
“A number of hundred Ukrainians proceed to carry off the Russian military in that a part of the world in a reasonably important battle. It speaks to the tenacity of the Ukrainian soldier[s] and their management,” the official mentioned.
Over the weekend, the Russians executed 60 missile strikes throughout the nation — in Kyiv, Lviv, Chernihiv and Odesa, the official mentioned, noting that there have been civilian casualties. “We’re not fairly positive concerning the Russian goals of the strikes.”
Close to Kherson, the official mentioned DOD is conscious of rising indications of resistance towards the Russian occupation. “Over the past a number of days, we have change into conscious of assassinations of native Russian officers. And we’re additionally conscious that reporting suggests Ukrainians have been profitable in liberating a number of small cities northwest and west of Kherson.”
The division has additionally seen proof of continued morale issues amongst Russian forces, the official mentioned. Additionally, DOD is conscious of a number of Russian generals in Ukraine who’ve been relieved of obligation.
The Russians have employed their reserves over the past month or so, the official mentioned. “The truth that the Russians are speaking about reserves speaks to the impression that the Ukrainians are having on the Russian military.
“Should you simply look on paper, the Russians definitely have a bonus because it pertains to munitions programs and whole numbers of troops that they’ll placed on the sector,” the official mentioned.
The Ukrainians’ progress with fewer forces speaks to their talent and willpower, the official mentioned.
Relating to U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine, the official mentioned that 4 extra Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Techniques will quickly be on their strategy to Ukraine.
“We’re persevering with to work our safety help and shifting heaven and earth to get that help ahead to the Ukrainians as quick as we will. And I feel what you are seeing on the battlefield is that the Ukrainians are making good use of not simply our programs, however programs that they are acquiring from our companions and allies all over the world,” the official mentioned.
