Avril Haines tells Senate hearing of ‘grinding, attritional war’ but sounds cautious note over Ukraine’s prospects in expected counter-offensive
, on the eastern front, could fall in a few days, but Haines described Russian advances as “incremental” and Bakhmut as “not a particularly strategic objective”.
She listed Russia’s military constraints as including “personnel and ammunition shortages, dysfunction within the military leadership, exhaustion as well as morale challenges”, and high casualty rates.“Putin likely has a better understanding of the limits of what his military is capable of achieving and appears to be focused on more modest military objectives for now,” Haines said.
“At present the Ukrainian armed forces remain locked in a struggle to defend against Russian offences across eastern Ukraine,” she said. “And while these Russian assaults are costly for Russia, the extent to which Ukrainian forces are having to draw down their reserves and equipment as well as suffer further casualties will all likely factor into Ukraine’s ability to go on the offensive later this spring.
Haines did not mention another factor, the speed of delivery of western military equipment, which Kyiv portrays as being decisive. She did address the question of
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Tightening grip’: Russia and Ukraine’s eastern battle intensifiesUkraine's military has claimed its “defence is holding” as Russian forces attempt to encircle the city of Bakhmut which the Wagner mercenary group has declared is about to fall.
Read more »
Trump has a ‘strong sense’ of Americans’ anxiety over Ukraine-Russia conflictFormer US President Donald Trump has a “very strong and clear sense' of many Americans’ anxiety over the Ukrainian war with Russia and the threat of nuclear warfare, says Freshwater Strategy Director Leo Shanahan. His comments follow Mr Trumps’ bold speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in which he labelled himself the “anti-World War III” candidate. “This is a real anxiety for most Americans that if a nuclear bomb goes off in Ukraine that could end in a third world war,” Mr Shanahan told Sky News Australia. “So there’s a real risk there and it’s a fear he’s articulating quite clearly early on.”
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 377 of the invasionVolodymyr Zelenskiy commits to defending Bakhmut and pays tribute to executed soldier
Read more »
Ukraine names soldier allegedly shot by Russia in viral clip, vows revengeUkrainians are rallying behind the slogan 'Glory to Ukraine', after a video on social media showed the apparent Russian shooting of a captured soldier.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 378 of the invasionUS news report suggests pro-Ukrainian group carried out Nord Stream attack; Ukraine names unarmed prisoner of war shot in video
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war live: Zelenskiy vows to defend Bakhmut; China says Russia ties will go from ‘strength to strength’Ukraine president’s comments come as analysts suggest Ukrainian forces are carrying out a ‘fighting withdrawal’; Chinese foreign minister says Moscow and Beijing will be a ‘a driving force’ for the world
Read more »