KYIV: Ukraine said on Sunday that Russian troops were advancing in four areas in the east of the country amid “fierce fighting”, but reported its forces moving forward in the south.

Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Maliar said that Russian troops were advancing near Avdiivka, Mariinka, Lyman and Svatove.

“Fierce fighting is going on everywhere,” Maliar wrote on social media, adding: “The situation is quite complicated.”

Ukrainian forces have made gradual progress in their counter-offensive launched last month, but have so far failed to produce a major breakthrough and have urged Western allies to escalate pledges of military support.

The latest developments on the battlefield came after Ukrainian officials said Russia launched its first overnight drone attack on the capital Kyiv in 12 days.

Ukraine said all the drones were downed.

Maliar also said Ukrainian troops were advancing with “partial success” on the southern flank of Bakhmut in the east and near Berdyansk and Melitopol in the south.

She said Ukrainian forces faced “intense enemy resistance, remote mining, deploying of reserves” in the south and were only advancing “gradually”.

“They are persistently and unceasingly creating conditions for as fast an advance as possible,” she added.

‘Dragging their feet’

Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny expressed frustration in an interview published on Friday at the slow deliveries of weaponry promised by the West.

Zaluzhny said his Western supporters would not themselves launch an offensive without air superiority, but Ukraine is still awaiting F-16 fighter jets promised by its allies.

“I do not need 120 planes. I’m not going to threaten the whole world. A very limited number would be enough,” he told a newspaper.

He also complained he has a fraction of the artillery shells that Russia is firing.

“A lot of people die every day -- a lot. Just because no decision has been made yet,” Zaluzhny said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke about F-16 training on Saturday during a visit to Kyiv by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

“I believe that some partners are dragging their feet,” Zelensky said, referring to F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots.

A coalition of Kyiv’s European backers, led by the Netherlands and Denmark, has said it will help teach Ukrainian pilots, after the United States gave its green light in May.

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said last month the training could start this summer.

‘Detected and destroyed’

US Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Mark Milley has assured that the United States and allies are giving them as much help as humanly possible”.

He acknowledged, in comments made on Friday, that some people had expressed impatience with the pace of the counter-offensive.

“Sure, it goes a little slow but that is part of the nature of war,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2023