Russians take Ukrainian village, but no more ‘progress’

Russia has announced the capture of the village of Orozany. But elsewhere Ukraine is regaining its strength, says defense expert Peter Vininga of the Hague Institute for Strategic Studies. In the meantime, Kiev must wait for the materials it promised at the NATO summit.

“The Russians are making gains on the ground west of Avdiivka, including Orozhyny,” said Wijnenga, a defense specialist at The Hague Center for Strategic Studies. Russian and Ukrainian bloggers have reported the capture of the village. There has been no official response from Ukraine so far.

“There’s a lot of fighting in that area, and Ukraine had to give up some of it.” But even if things go a little better for Russia, according to Weninga, it will come at a heavy cost. Elsewhere, it’s the Ukrainians who are making some progress on the front, like in Kupyansk. “It’s going back and forth a little bit. That means the Russian offensive has lost momentum.”

Waiting for help and permission

According to the defense expert, Ukraine is waiting for two developments. On the one hand, there is the new aid that will go to the country, following the announcements made at the NATO summit last week. “This could happen very quickly if there are ready supplies,” he says. “Although the materials still need to go to the front, once they reach Ukraine.”

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Kiev also wants US approval to launch cruise missiles deeper into Russia, with the aim of hitting air bases. “Ukraine has so far been allowed to directly attack Russian units across the border preparing to invade the country,” he added. “But the main air bases from which Russian bombers fly are located 600 to 800 kilometers from the border.”