Many Russian soldiers fled Kharkiv and left Ukraine, says US official
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has largely ceded its gains in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv region, and many of the retreating Russian soldiers have left Ukraine across the border back into Russia, a senior U.S. military official said on Monday. -fair.
The United States has seen anecdotal reports of Russian forces abandoning their equipment, "which could be an indication that Russian command and control is disorganized," the US military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The statements to Pentagon reporters followed a weekend of quick gains for Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's general staff said its troops had recaptured more than 20 towns and villages in the previous day alone, as Ukrainian forces advanced deeper into territory seized by retreating Russian troops.
The US military official was optimistic but cautious in describing Ukrainian advances.
"It's clear they are fighting hard," the official said, citing progress in the south and east of the country to regain territory.
Ukraine said it had repelled attempts at Russian advances in two key areas of the Donetsk region - the city of Bakhmut and Maiorsk, near the coal-producing town of Horlivka, the staff said in an overnight update.
But the top US military official said Russia was still focusing its firepower on Bakhmut.
"We continue to see heavy use of artillery and air strikes," the official said.
No comments:
Post a Comment