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[キーウ ３１日 ロイター] – Ukraine expressed its displeasure on Wednesday at the voices of Western officials criticizing the slow progress of a three-month counteroffensive against Russian forces.

On August 31, Ukraine expressed its displeasure at the voices of Western officials criticizing the slow progress of the three-month counteroffensive against Russian forces. Ukrainian soldiers near the front line in Zaporozhye region on the same day in this picture (Reuters/Oleksandr Ratushniak)

The New York Times and the Washington Post reported last week that officials in the United States and Europe were suggesting that the progress of the counteroffensive had fallen short of expectations. He said some had criticized Ukrainian strategy, including misplacement of troops.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba told reporters at a meeting of the European Union’s foreign ministers on Thursday, “Criticism of the slow pace of the counteroffensive is making progress at a cost every day, liberating one kilometer of Ukrainian territory.” It’s like spitting in the face of a Ukrainian soldier.”

“I advise all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to liberate one square centimeter yourself,” he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told CNN that while Western countries are helping Ukraine, it is important to trust Ukraine to make the decisions.

Ukrainian forces finally reached Russia’s main defensive line south of Lobotine, in the southeastern Zaporozhye province, which they recaptured last week. If we can break through this, we hope that the defenses on the Russian side will be weaker than the areas we have passed through so far, and there will be fewer landmines.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Marial said on Monday that the operation had been successful near Novopokropyvka, near Robotine, but did not give details. He also said troops were advancing near Bakhmut in the east.

Ukraine has also stepped up drone attacks on Russian territory and Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had destroyed another Ukrainian drone over western Bryansk.

Russian authorities earlier said they shot down a drone in Bryansk and intercepted a Ukrainian cruise missile in Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014.

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2023-08-31 23:32:00