Russian General Valery Gierasimov briefs President Vladimir Putin on military advances in Ukraine, contradicting Ukrainian reports of repelled Russian attacks and stalled progress.
Contrasting Narratives on Ukraine Frontline
Russian General Valery Gierasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces are making progress on nearly all fronts in Ukraine, citing intense battles near Pokrovsk and Russian advances in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions.
However, these claims contradict reports from the Ukrainian side, including statements from President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine has successfully repelled three recent Russian offensives.
Ukrainian Perspective on Recent Clashes
The Ukrainian General Staff reported over 180 combat engagements along the entire front line in the past 24 hours, with Russian forces primarily attacking in Donbas and the Kharkiv region, particularly aiming to encircle the city of Kupiansk.
Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko noted that if Russian forces fail to make significant gains in Kupiansk soon, Ukrainian forces may be able to destroy them using drones and artillery.
International Support and Diplomacy
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, visited Kyiv to discuss further support for Ukraine, including military cooperation and training, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The visit included plans to sign agreements on bilateral relations, military cooperation, and the activities of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz.
