Zelensky admits Ukrainian counteroffensive goes ‘slower than desired’

Putin says situation on frontline is 'lull'

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is going “slower than desired” as he spoke to the BBC.

“Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect results now. It’s not. What’s at stake is people’s lives," he said.

Zelensky said the military push was not going easily because 200,000 square km of Ukrainian territory had been mined by Russian forces.

“Whatever some might want, including attempts to pressure us, with all due respect, we will advance on the battlefield the way we deem best,”

Zelensky added.

He reinforced the need for Ukraine to be given security guarantees from NATO but said ultimately the goal was membership of the defensive alliance. The Ukrainian leader also added that Ukraine should receive US-made F-16 fighter jets.

Vladimir Putin has also commented on the counteroffensive, referring to the situation on the frontline as “lull”. He claims no active offensive actions are being performed by Ukraine’s military.

“What we are witnessing currently is a lull; this is happening because the opponent is suffering heavy losses both in manpower and machinery,” the Russian president claimed.

“Our men have smashed 245 tanks and 678 armoured vehicles of the opponent. The offensive potential of the Ukrainian military is still not depleted, they have some reserves,” he said.

Deputy Defence Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar stated on 19 June that eight settlements had been liberated in the two weeks of the counteroffensive in the Berdyansk and Melitopol directions: Novodarivka, Levadne, Storozheve, Makarivka, Blahodatne, Lobkove, Neskuchne, and Piatykhatky.

The US Institute for the Study of War reported the same day that the Ukrainian forces may be temporarily pausing counteroffensive operations to reevaluate their tactics for future operations.