Ukraine's Counteroffensive Against Russian Forces

 Ukraine reported making gains in the south and east over the past week in difficult fighting to dislodge Moscow's heavily entrenched forces. Kyiv's troops, which have faced intense resistance in their counteroffensive launched last month, have urged Western allies for more military support.

Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said Ukrainian troops over the past week had recaptured nine square kilometres in the east and 28 square kilometres in the south. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Ukraine did not reach its goals in any of the sectors, and claimed nearly all Leopard tanks provided by Poland and Portugal had been destroyed.

Last month, the head of the Wagner mercenary group led his forces in a rebellion against Moscow's top military brass. In response, the Kremlin gave Wagner fighters the choice of signing contracts with the Russian defence ministry, returning to civilian life or going into exile in Moscow-allied Belarus. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine after a referendum widely regarded as a sham by Kyiv and Western countries.

The Russian security service (FSB) said Monday it had foiled an attempt on the life of the Moscow-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov. The FSB said it had detained a suspect - "a Russian national born in 1988 who had been recruited by officers of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU)". Kyiv is fighting to try to recapture its territories in the east and south, including the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Ukraine's military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny told the Washington Post he has a fraction of the artillery shells that Russia is firing. Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said a drone attack on a residential building in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, killed one on Monday.

Late Sunday, freedom of expression group PEN also said a Ukranian writer wounded in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant last week had died. Ukraine has expressed frustration at the slow deliveries of weapons promised by the West. President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "Last week was difficult on the frontline. But we are making progress. We are moving forward, step by step!" Moscow is also on the offensive, and in recent days launched new assaults towards Svatove, in the eastern Lugansk region.

Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said Russian forces were fighting "fierce" battles around the eastern flashpoint city of Bakhmut, as well as near Avdiivka, Mariinka and Lyman. Russia however said there was no need for further mobilisation to replace the Wagner troops that left the battlefield. "

The plans failed primarily because the personnel of the armed forces showed loyalty to their oath and military duty," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said. The current conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, and Ukraine has urged Western allies for more military support in its fight for freedom.

Ukrainian officials have voiced their frustration at the lack of aid from the West, as they continue to suffer losses in the battle against Moscow's heavily entrenched forces.