They punched a hole through thinly-guarded Russian front lines east of Kharkiv, and severing the Russian lines of logistics, forcing the withdrawal of large contingents of Russian soldiers from multiple locations, about as much territory as they gained since April.
Most important, the Ukrainians retook the cities of Izyum and Kupyansk. Without them, Russia can no longer supply its forces in the north-east or east of Ukraine, so further collapses, withdrawals and surrenders of Russian forces are to be expected.
The Telegraph predicts that the Ukrainians will keep control of what they have gained. The Russians are finding it hard to defend, let alone counterattack. They simply don't have the troops or the logistics. Worse (for them) their morale - that intangible essential in warfare - has hit a new rock bottom.
Today we learn that frustration with Russia’s staggering losses in Ukraine has spilled over into the tightly controlled state media. Viewers have been warned by a war commentator that Vladimir Putin has been misled by advisers, and said Ukraine cannot be defeated. Amazing! Like watching one of CNN's never-Trumpers admit that the Democrats are going to get thrashed in the mid-terms!
Boris Nadezhdin, who for years played the token liberal on state television, appeared last weekend for the first time in months, calling for peace talks. "We're now at the point where we have to understand – it's absolutely impossible to defeat Ukraine, using the resources and colonial war methods that Russia is using to win this war."
It's not yet time to break out the best vodka, but the signs are encouraging.
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
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