Russia has more than 200,000 troops stationed in occupied parts of Ukraine, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said he said in an interview with CNN on September 18.
While the general acknowledged that the Ukrainian counter-offensive was proceeding at a relatively slow pace, he emphasized that the Ukrainian military was “not a spent force” and was constantly gaining.
According to Milley, Kiev’s ongoing military campaign cannot be called a failure, as Ukraine has broken through several Russian defense belts and still has time to achieve further results.
The general, who is expected to step down as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the end of the month, said earlier on September 10 that Ukraine had about 30-45 days. remaining to the offensive before the weather worsens.
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However, Milley noted that even if the counteroffensive achieved all of its goals, it would not be enough to completely push Russian forces out of Ukraine.
It will take “a considerable amount of time” to expel all 200,000 occupation troops, the general said.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which has been underway in the country’s southeast since at least June, has drawn criticism for its slow pace and limited gains.
However, in the past few weeks, Ukraine has had some notable successes as the military broke through Russia’s first line of defense in south and allegedly started fighting weaker second line.
Earlier on September 18, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who leads military operations in the east he said that Ukrainian troops broke through one of the Russian defense lines also at Bakhmut on the eastern front.
The recent liberation of the village of Klishchiivka south of the occupied city supposedly created a beachhead for further counteroffensive operations in the area, Ukrainian military spokesman Illia Yevlash said.
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