NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has commented on the start of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counter-offensive. He said that our defenders are gradually gaining ground.

This was reported by USA Today. Stoltenberg said that Ukraine's offensive against the Russian-occupied parts of the east and south has already shown the first signs of success and is gaining momentum.

The Secretary General made the statement against the backdrop of the liberation of seven settlements by the Ukrainian Armed Forces that were previously under the control of Russian troops.

"We must be prepared for this offensive to be bloody and difficult. The Russians have had time to build quite powerful defences, and breaking through them is a difficult task," Stoltenberg said.

He noted that for NATO Allies, Ukraine's success on the battlefield will be crucial to maintaining the public support needed to ensure a steady flow of military aid. And this, as Stoltenberg stressed, is vital.

At the same time, the Secretary General added that Russian troops have received poor leadership and supplies.

"But we have seen that Ukrainians have the courage, the determination to liberate the land... and they can fight back against the Russians," he said.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Russian occupation forces are focusing their main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions, where heavy fighting continues (22 combat engagements per day). The enemy is on the defensive in Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.

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