Kiev assesses counterattack as "effective", successfully overcomes first line of defense, denies ceasefire negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Ukraine's large-scale counteroffensive against Russia over the past three months has been "effective" and that the attacks will continue until Russian forces withdraw.

Russian ship launches missile from Black Sea to attack Ukrainian ammunition train. (Source: TASS)

In a recent interview, Mr. Podolyak denied that ceasefire negotiations were being considered, stressing that such talks at this time "would mean Ukraine's surrender."

Despite lacking air superiority, ammunition and long-range artillery, the Ukrainian army has broken through the first line of defense established by Russian forces and is advancing steadily, Podolyak said.

Mr. Podolyak also speculated that attacks inside Russia against airports and other targets by anti -government groups would increase.

Western countries have gradually approved Ukraine's counter-offensive against the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, despite initial concerns that the move would only escalate tensions, Ukraine's presidential adviser said.

“We will destroy all military- related facilities in Crimea to reduce fighting on the front lines,” he added.

Mr Podolyak stressed that Ukraine's goal was not to send troops to the borders drawn up in 1991 after the country declared independence from the Soviet Union, but to "break the Russian front lines and force them to withdraw from Ukrainian territory".

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xung-dot-nga-ukraine-kiev-danh-gia-cuoc-phan-cong-hieu-qua-vuot-qua-tuyen-phong-thu-dau-tien-thanh-cong-phu-nhan-dam-phan-ngung-ban-241424.html