Pentagon: Ukrainian counteroffensive yields ‘encouraging signs’

The Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south has shown "encouraging signs”, according to a senior US Defense Department official.

Ukrinform reports this with reference to CNN.

“We’re watching the progress on the counteroffensive quite closely as you could imagine. ... I think we’ve seen some encouraging signs, certainly even in just the last day or two,” US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker said.

According to him, the Ukrainian forces have been “creative” in integrating military capabilities provided by the US and other countries in their operations.

“But again, the Russians are a formidable adversary, and there’s a, I think, a long fight ahead,” Baker said.

CNN noted that this is the first time the US Defense Department has called the Ukrainian operation a counteroffensive, a term previously avoided by department officials, including US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

As reported, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 51,900 Russian military between February 24 and September 9.

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