This year, Ukraine will celebrate its Independence Day on Thursday with a very special parade: the wrecks of Russian tanks are lined up on Khreshchatyk Boulevard, the central street in Kiev. They illustrate Moscow’s losses, but cannot hide the difficulties of the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Pedestrians walk between the rusted tanks with which Moscow tried in vain to take the Ukrainian capital in February 2022. The war trophies were awarded in the run-up to August 24, the day Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
The sight of the Russian tanks makes her angry, says Anna, who does not want to give her last name. But even after a year and a half of war, the 35-year-old has not given up hope that Ukraine will eventually drive out the Russian attackers. “Of course it won’t happen that quickly,” says Anna, who criticizes the Western idea of a quick victory. “Maybe some people out there think this is a reality show.”
“Lightning success” of the counter-offensive was considered unrealistic
Ukrainian politicians emphasize that it was clear from the start that the battle would be long and difficult. And that the expectations of a ‘lightning success’ of the counter-offensive were unrealistic. The Ukrainian army will recapture all occupied territories, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told AFP news agency last week. “We don’t care how long this takes.”
After the West had been supplying Ukraine with weapons for months, Kiev launched its counter-offensive in June. However, progress is modest. Ukrainian troops recaptured only a few villages in the south. They come across Russian defenses consisting of miles of trenches and minefields.
Washington was concerned
The US media reports that the government in Washington is increasingly concerned about the slow progress of the reconquest and strategy of Ukraine. That raises the question of how long Kiev’s staunchest ally will maintain its support. New estimates by the US secret services also show that Ukraine’s losses are enormous with about 70,000 soldiers killed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already declared the Ukrainian counterattack a failure.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
