KYIV BRINGS WAR TO RUSSIA: Zelenskyy’s statement about a fire blazing at the Zaporizhzhia plant has revived fears of nuclear blackmail by Moscow as Ukraine continues with an offensive that has seen its troops push deeper into enemy territory. The Ukrainian president acknowledged the offensive on Saturday.
Not acknowledging it: Russia’s high command has insisted the situation is under control. But video and photographic evidence show Ukrainian troops have chinese overseas australia database advanced at least 30km into Russian territory since the offensive started on Tuesday and repelled Russian attempts to reinforce defending troops, the Financial Times reports, quoting troops and battlefield commanders.
Kremlin silence: President Vladimir Putin himself has yet to address Russians on Kyiv’s offensive, despite Moscow announcing a “counter-terrorism” operation to stop the advance.
TAKE A STEP BACK: Kyiv’s shock push into Russian territory marks an attempt to regain the initiative and bring the war back to front pages in the third year of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. It’s a huge gamble, but one that highlights Ukrainian commanders’ willingness to show the world the underdog can still pull off bold moves to destabilize its enemy.
Lithuania’s Landsbergis had this to say about the offensive: “In my view, any step that Ukraine takes is a step towards protecting Europe and a reminder of the lessons from the Cold War — largely how to win.”
Escalation management: “And for us, it is very important to finally realize that Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don’t help enough.”