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armour underfire and taking hits. it has been geo— located to the southern donbas. while attribution and interpretation can be debated, it is evident that after months of stasis, the battle is intensifying. land action has started. for an offensive now that has been in preparation now for nine months. as to what is riding on it, well, the first thing is that it is simply not going to be big enough to throw every russian out of ukraine, so we should be looking for it to achieve sufficient battlefield success to show the war can be won by ukraine, supported by the west. there have been reports of fighting in several key places. the ukrainian incursion into russia in the belgorod region continues, embarrassingly for the kremlin, and russian sources are reporting some gains north of back moot and to the
pragmatic and more or less leaving belgorod _ pragmatic and more or less leaving belgorod to— pragmatic and more or less leaving belgorod to its _ pragmatic and more or less leaving belgorod to its own _ pragmatic and more or less leaving belgorod to its own devices. - belgorod to its own devices. 0k~ — 0k. yuriy sak, i wonder if you genuinely expect people to believe that there operatives who are crossing the russian border into belgorod, hundreds of men, it would seem, with certain weapons, operating at that level, are you really expecting people to believe they are nothing to do with the ukrainians? we have said that some of these russian partisans, mainly all of them, russian citizens. some of them have been members of the international legion in the past. but we have stressed many times that we do not have any direct control over these troops. the military operations are absolutely independent. one thing that surprises us that it took them so long, but we understand that russian partisans, these insurgents, they are seeing how the ukrainian armed forces are beating russians on the battlefield and we believe that it
west of belgorod two. this last one is intriguing —— to the west of ten micro too. this last one is intriguing, because it could lead to cutting the land to but it is too early to be sure. ukraine will see where it makes progress and will look to reinforce that, for example, the advance near back moot, or start a new axis, towards crimea from curse on, or more audaciously of all, push around through belgorod to get behind and cut off russian forces in donbas. ukraine's ministry of defence has so far been taking a careless talk costs lives type of line, and even accepting that the ground phase of this offensive has started, but it could take time before the ukrainians find their success to exploit. in the meantime, they will keep up the pressure for more western supplies.— keep up the pressure for more western supplies. there will be never enough — western supplies. there will be never enough of _ western supplies. there will be never enough of weapons. - never enough of weapons. when you go in the counteroffensive, one thing is to have enough of
is this it, then? yes, it is the short answer. the counteroffensive had many levels, and we have seen many there were some of them in recent weeks. strikes into russia against ammunition stores, petrol stores, that kind of thing, to prepare the ground. so call shaping operations, and even those drone attacks in moscow and other places deep in russia and the belgorod actions to unbalance the russians, make them worry about where things are coming, whether their government can keep them safe. but what we have been waiting for is the movement of those brigades, and we have seen evidence today. some of the video material we have seen coming out of russia, which has been checked and geo— located, shows distinctive equipment that western countries have supplied. in one case, to one brigade alone, the 37th marine brigade, which was one of those held back, and it is in that vuhledar area, apparently making progress. so they are moving and committing their reserves. the question is, where will they have success, and where will they have success, and where will they have success, and where will they push the follow—on forces to exploit any success? and
soldier. it is what kind of soldier you are able to target. and - soldier. it is what kind of soldier you are able to target. and so i soldier. it is what kind of soldier. you are able to target. and so far, though— you are able to target. and so far, though the — you are able to target. and so far, though the ukrainians _ you are able to target. and so far, though the ukrainians have - though the ukrainians have demonstrated _ though the ukrainians have demonstrated quite - though the ukrainians have demonstrated quite an - though the ukrainians have - demonstrated quite an impressive capacity— demonstrated quite an impressive capacity to — demonstrated quite an impressive capacity to outthink_ demonstrated quite an impressive capacity to outthink the _ demonstrated quite an impressive capacity to outthink the russians, | capacity to outthink the russians, we ought — capacity to outthink the russians, we ought to— capacity to outthink the russians, we ought to recognise _ capacity to outthink the russians, we ought to recognise that - capacity to outthink the russians, we ought to recognise that the . we ought to recognise that the russians— we ought to recognise that the russians have _ we ought to recognise that the russians have been _ we ought to recognise that the russians have been learning, i we ought to recognise that the - russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly. _ russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly. and — russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly, and often— russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly, and often in— russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly, and often in a _ russians have been learning, slowly, haltingly, and often in a rather- haltingly, and often in a rather brutal— haltingly, and often in a rather brutal manner, _ haltingly, and often in a rather brutal manner, but _ haltingly, and often in a rather. brutal manner, but nonetheless, haltingly, and often in a rather- brutal manner, but nonetheless, they have been— brutal manner, but nonetheless, they have been learning, _ brutal manner, but nonetheless, they have been learning, and _ brutal manner, but nonetheless, they have been learning, and they- brutal manner, but nonetheless, they have been learning, and they know i have been learning, and they know this offensive _ have been learning, and they know this offensive is _ have been learning, and they know this offensive is coming, _ have been learning, and they know this offensive is coming, so - this offensive is coming, so presumably, _ this offensive is coming, so presumably, they— this offensive is coming, so presumably, they have - this offensive is coming, so i presumably, they have made this offensive is coming, so - presumably, they have made their preparations _ preparations. but _ preparations. but what - preparations. | but what they preparations. - but what they have got preparations. — but what they have got now, which may be taking them away from the front line, is inside russia, in belgorod, there is fighting going on. that is damaging for the russians, isn't it? it on. that is damaging for the russians, isn't it?— on. that is damaging for the russians, isn't it? it is damaging, but essentially _ russians, isn't it? it is damaging, but essentially politically - russians, isn't it? it is damaging,| but essentially politically damaging will stop _ but essentially politically damaging will stop let's — but essentially politically damaging will stop let's be _ but essentially politically damaging will stop let's be clear. _ but essentially politically damaging will stop let's be clear. this- but essentially politically damaging will stop let's be clear. this is- but essentially politically damaging will stop let's be clear. this is a - will stop let's be clear. this is a raid. _ will stop let's be clear. this is a raid, certainly— will stop let's be clear. this is a raid, certainly not _ will stop let's be clear. this is a raid, certainly not a _ will stop let's be clear. this is a raid, certainly not a major- raid, certainly not a major incursion— raid, certainly not a major incursion at _ raid, certainly not a major incursion at this _ raid, certainly not a major incursion at this stage, i raid, certainly not a major incursion at this stage, soj raid, certainly not a major. incursion at this stage, so it basically— incursion at this stage, so it basically puts _ incursion at this stage, so it basically puts a _ incursion at this stage, so it basically puts a political- incursion at this stage, so it - basically puts a political dilemma on the _ basically puts a political dilemma on the kremlin. _ basically puts a political dilemma on the kremlin. does _ basically puts a political dilemma on the kremlin. does it— basically puts a political dilemma on the kremlin. does it try - basically puts a political dilemma on the kremlin. does it try to - on the kremlin. does it try to reinforce _ on the kremlin. does it try to reinforce its _ on the kremlin. does it try to reinforce its borders, - on the kremlin. does it try to reinforce its borders, which. on the kremlin. does it try to . reinforce its borders, which will take _ reinforce its borders, which will take trips — reinforce its borders, which will take trips away _ reinforce its borders, which will take trips away from _ reinforce its borders, which will take trips away from its - reinforce its borders, which will take trips away from its front. reinforce its borders, which will. take trips away from its front line, or does— take trips away from its front line, or does it — take trips away from its front line, or does it more _ take trips away from its front line, or does it more or— take trips away from its front line, or does it more or less _ take trips away from its front line, or does it more or less except- take trips away from its front line, | or does it more or less except that places— or does it more or less except that places like — or does it more or less except that places like belgorod, _ or does it more or less except that places like belgorod, they- or does it more or less except that places like belgorod, they are - or does it more or less except that. places like belgorod, they are going to have _ places like belgorod, they are going to have to— places like belgorod, they are going to have to fend _ places like belgorod, they are going to have to fend for— places like belgorod, they are going to have to fend for themselves, - to have to fend for themselves, because — to have to fend for themselves, because they _ to have to fend for themselves, because they cannot allow- to have to fend for themselves, - because they cannot allow themselves to be distracted? _ because they cannot allow themselves to be distracted? at— because they cannot allow themselves to be distracted? at present, - because they cannot allow themselves to be distracted? at present, the - to be distracted? at present, the kremlin— to be distracted? at present, the kremlin is— to be distracted? at present, the kremlin is clearly— to be distracted? at present, the kremlin is clearly being - to be distracted? at present, thel kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly pragmatic— kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly pragmatic and _ kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly pragmatic and more _ kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly pragmatic and more or— kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly pragmatic and more or less - kremlin is clearly being ruthlessly.
weapons to begin it, but another thing is to ensure sustainability of supplies in order to be able to continue as long as it is needed. rather surreally, given the incursion at belgorod, president putin has been filmed talking transport policy today with officials. hackers, meanwhile, cut into broadcasts in parts of western russia with a deep fake putin announcing martial law. so the offensive will push around 40,000 troops in a dozen brigades, carefully held back by the ukrainians, into weak points in the russian line. the west is feeding ukraine intelligence about where to direct its attacks, and has equipped nine of those reserve brigades. but even so, many in whitehall believe that's not enough to guarantee ukrainian success. throughout recent months, russia has exploited its