Ukraine 'gaining ground' in counteroffensive

The latest Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia has shown early signs of success, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday.

Hi, it's Julius with an update on Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers are "gaining ground," Stoltenberg told Paste BN, retaking seven small towns and villages from Russian troops.

"We need to be prepared that this offensive will be bloody and and difficult," Stoltenberg said. "The Russians have had time to build − they're quite heavy defensive lines, and to breach them is a demanding task."

Despite Ukraine's progress, Russian President Vladimir Putin still claims his forces have the upper hand, saying late last week that "the Ukrainian troops haven’t achieved their stated tasks in a single area of fighting.”

The early battles may suggest the tens of billions invested by the U.S.-led coalition in equipping and training Ukrainian forces with western weapons and how to use them is paying off.

The Pentagon has supplied Ukraine with hundreds of armored personnel carriers, mine-resistant armored trucks, and Humvees for the offensive. U.S. and NATO troops have also been training Ukrainian forces in combining artillery fire to cover the troops in armored vehicles and on foot who will assault Russian fortifications.

For NATO allies, Ukrainian success on the battlefield will be critical to sustaining public support needed to ensure the steady flow of military aid that Stoltenberg said is vital.

More on the Ukraine-Russia crisis:

• Russia launched an overnight attack Tuesday that killed at least 11 people and injured 25 in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, officials said.
• The Pentagon announced a $325 million military aid package for Ukraine, the second announcement of weapons for the country in less than a week.