Ukraine may not be close to a knockout blow, but a group of retired US generals say it's winning on points. Speaking to CBS News, former Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley and other ex-commanders argued Ukraine now holds the advantage against Russia on the front lines.
- "I would assess operationally Ukraine is winning in the context they are defeating enemy operational objectives, creating conditions for follow-on operations, and preserving freedom of action," Ashley said.
Their assessment follows Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrski's claim that forces have recaptured about 232 square miles this year, with heavy combat in the southeast. Analysts credit a leap in Ukraine's drone capabilities, especially mid-range strikes now hitting Russian command posts, ammo depots, and logistics hubs 30 to 60 miles behind the front. "They're doing that very often, basically every day now. And the quantities of these drones they're using is only going to increase," says military analyst Rob Lee, a former US Marine Corps infantry officer. Ukrainian drones have also hit deep inside Russia.
Lee and other analysts warn that while Ukraine might have the upper hand for now, a strategic victory is far from guaranteed. "All of this is reversible and fragile at best depending on how much Putin wants to escalate," Ashley said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he had pressed for tougher sanctions on Russia at a summit with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Estonia, the AP reports. "All of our partners now note that Ukraine's positions on the front are significantly stronger, and so our diplomacy, which we are working to step up, must proceed from that," he said. "Unfortunately, Russia is trying to make up for its enormous battlefield losses with strikes on our cities and communities, and on civilian infrastructure."
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