Ukrainian forces launched their long-expected counter-offensive against Russia earlier this month, with German-made Leopard II main battle tanks, many of which have already been lost, taking part in the operations against Russian forces, but so far, territorial gains have been few in number.
The U.S.-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated this week that while Ukraine was conducting offensive operations in at least four sectors of the frontline, they have made “limited territorial gains.”
“Ukrainian forces may be temporarily pausing counteroffensive operations to reevaluate their tactics for future operations,” the ISW said and added that Ukraine has not yet deployed the majority of its forces to the frontline.
“ISW has previously noted that Ukraine has not yet committed the majority of its available forces to counteroffensive operations and has not yet launched its main effort. Operational pauses are a common feature of major offensive undertakings, and this pause does not signify the end of Ukraine’s counteroffensive,” the ISW states.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has claimed that Ukraine has suffered severe losses during the counteroffensive, claiming last week that Russian artillery, air strikes and infantry had destroyed at least five tanks and killed around 500 Ukrainian military personnel, although the Russian figures have yet to be independently verified.
British military intelligence, meanwhile, has stated that both sides are suffering heavy casualties in the ongoing fighting.
Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar has claimed that Ukraine has liberated around eight villages and 113 square kilometres of land and said that Russian forces have increased shelling around the town of Bakhmut, which recently fell to Russia, spearheaded by the mercenary PMC Wagner Group.
“The enemy has raised its forces and is conducting an active offensive in the Lyman and Kupyan directions, trying to seize the initiative from us. High activity of enemy shelling is recorded. Intense battles continue,” Maliar said.
“The enemy does not abandon his plans to reach the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Currently, this is the enemy’s main offensive line. Therefore, it has concentrated a significant number of units in the east, in particular the airborne assault units. Our troops act courageously in the face of the enemy’s superiority in forces and means, and do not allow the enemy to advance,” she added.
The seemingly lacklustre counteroffensive comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed a document allegedly drawn up in March of 2022 in Turkey that was a draft of a peace agreement with Ukraine.
President Putin showed the document to an African delegation on Saturday saying, “This draft agreement was initialled by the head of the Kiev negotiation team. He put his signature there. Here it is.”
According to the Russian leader, Ukraine refused to finalise the deal and said, “Where are the guarantees that they will not renounce any other agreements in the future?” Ukraine has refused to comment on the contents of the document.
The African delegation put forward its own peace plan for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa taking part in the talks.
“This war has to have an end … It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means,” Ramaphosa said and added, “This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed, on many other countries around the world.”
Despite some interest expressed by Moscow, neither side is willing to agree to the ten-point plan as Ukraine has demanded Russian forces leave the country entirely before any negotiations can begin.
