KYIV, Ukraine – Even as the Ukrainian government sought to bolster the nation’s resolve with celebrations that defied Independence Day, military leaders tried to draw in the public with a long, bloody slogan. ahead when Russia appeared to be aiming to strengthen its grip on Ukrainian territory it was seized.
“It will be very difficult; it will not be easy”, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said in an interview aired on Wednesday with Radio Liberty, an independent news organization funded by the United States. “And if someone thinks we’ve passed some Rubicon and the rest will be like the hands of a clock, unfortunately it won’t.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry says it is slowing down the pace of the military campaign – a reflection, Western military analysts say, that the Kremlin needs to explain the lack of military progress at home after weeks. without gaining significant new positions in Ukraine.
But Moscow continued its missile attack on the country, including on Wednesday, when two dozen people were killed in an attack on a train station in the east. And the United States warned that Moscow could try to hold “spoof” referendums, possibly as early as this weekend, to create a veil of legitimacy as it moves toward waxing enter parts of the country under his control.
John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters on Wednesday: “We expect Russia to try to manipulate the outcome of these referendums according to false claims. about the Ukrainian people wanting to join Russia. “It is important to appeal to and combat this misinformation in real time.”
He did not provide more detail on why the United States thinks the referendums could happen so quickly, or what impact such a move might have on negotiating efforts. end the fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said he would end negotiations with Russia if Moscow held a referendum in the occupied areas.
The Ukrainian government has urged people living under occupation to resist pressure to take part in the referendums. Its network of partisan fighters has stepped up their attacks on local Russian proxies.
The Ukrainian military’s southern command on Thursday said “local resistance prevents the Russians from taking organizational measures to prepare an artificial demonstration of will”.
Concern over Moscow’s referendum plans underscores the major challenges facing Ukraine as it seeks to channel the losses it has inflicted on Russian forces to successfully regain its territory. earth. Moscow is currently estimated to control about 20% of Ukraine.
The attacks on ammunition depots and command centers – along with partisan activity targeting the Russian occupation forces behind enemy lines – were part of a counter-offensive as the Ukrainians sought to find a way. both weakening Russian forces and sowing chaos.
But as Zelensky and other leaders have declared that Ukraine will win the war, they have also repeatedly called on Ukrainians living under Russian occupation to be patient.
Ukrainian forces have yet to make any major push to push the Russians out of occupied territory, and officials say they understand they have a limited amount of time to take advantage of apparent struggles clear of Russia. And Ukraine has also lost fighter jets and equipment, as its civilians have suffered from frequent Russian attacks.
Mr. Danilov said the most difficult days may still be ahead.
“We’re going to have a big fight with this country,” he said, “and we’re going to have to work very hard to win it.”
