Russian retreat...Germany still expect Russian victory
New York Times
Russia retreats from Kharkiv
Russia acknowledged that it had lost much of Kharkiv, a military stronghold, as Ukraine’s lightning advance took back over 1,000 square miles of land and a key military hub. Russia has now retreated from a wide section of Ukrainian territory that it had earlier seized, rattling Kremlin cheerleaders and amplifying calls for more weapons to be sent to Ukraine.
The retreat is the biggest embarrassment for Russia’s larger and better equipped forces since their attempt to seize Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was repelled at the start of the invasion. Amid heavy casualties, logistical problems and declining morale in Russia’s military, its performance has prompted discontent among staunch loyalists to Vladimir Putin, the president.
Though victory for Ukraine is still far from certain, a widespread assumption, both inside and outside Russia, that Russia would inevitably triumph in the end seems to be collapsing. Ukraine’s counteroffensive has also undermined arguments in places like Germany that providing more arms to Ukraine would lead only to a long stalemate against a Russian military destined to win.
Russia retreats from Kharkiv
Russia acknowledged that it had lost much of Kharkiv, a military stronghold, as Ukraine’s lightning advance took back over 1,000 square miles of land and a key military hub. Russia has now retreated from a wide section of Ukrainian territory that it had earlier seized, rattling Kremlin cheerleaders and amplifying calls for more weapons to be sent to Ukraine.
The retreat is the biggest embarrassment for Russia’s larger and better equipped forces since their attempt to seize Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was repelled at the start of the invasion. Amid heavy casualties, logistical problems and declining morale in Russia’s military, its performance has prompted discontent among staunch loyalists to Vladimir Putin, the president.
Though victory for Ukraine is still far from certain, a widespread assumption, both inside and outside Russia, that Russia would inevitably triumph in the end seems to be collapsing. Ukraine’s counteroffensive has also undermined arguments in places like Germany that providing more arms to Ukraine would lead only to a long stalemate against a Russian military destined to win.
61-69, M
