Assessing Ukraine’s Counteroffensive: The State of Affairs Against Russian Troops

According to multiple sources, Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces. The offensive began on June 8th, 2023, and has been described as a significant push into Russian-occupied territory. The counteroffensive is aimed at restoring Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and retaining Western support. While Ukrainian officials have consistently said there would be no public announcement of the start of the offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that “relevant counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine”.The offensive is expected to unfold over months and to serve as a test of a U.S.-led strategy to prepare Ukrainian forces with increasingly sophisticated weapons and training.

The Ukrainian troops include specialized attack units armed with Western weapons and trained in NATO tactics. Ukraine has been softening up Russian forces for months and is already engaged in efforts to recapture territory.The state of the counteroffensive is difficult to determine due to the nature of how wars are fought. While Ukrainian officials have claimed gains in territory, Russia has claimed to have destroyed Western-manufactured military hardware using sea-launched precision missiles. Despite delays, Ukraine’s counteroffensive has made gains and suffered no territorial losses