Speaking before the House of Commons defense committee on Tuesday, Admiral Tony Radakin, the head of the UK's armed forces, commented on an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia and dismissed claims of slow progress, according to reports.
He emphasized that the objective was to create a greater challenge for Russia along the extensive frontline.
"The question is, how do you take a front line that is more than a thousand kilometers long and turn it into more of a problem for Russia than for Ukraine?" Radakin said, as cited by the Financial Times.
"That is why you are seeing multiple axes being probed and feints by Ukraine," he added.
Radakin, who is the chief military advisor to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, acknowledged the complexities faced by the Ukrainian forces, such as the unexpectedly high concentration of Russian troops and the lack of air cover for the Ukrainian army, news outlets reported.
He also pointed out that the Ukrainian troops had not yet received all the necessary military equipment.
Although a full-scale counteroffensive is yet to commence, Radakin said Ukraine has already gained more territory in recent weeks than Russia has in the past year, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He claimed that Russian forces have been significantly weakened and are incapable of launching a counterattack.
"Russia has lost nearly half the combat effectiveness of its army," Radakin said, as quoted by the Financial Times. "Last year, it fired 10 million artillery shells, but at best, can produce 1 million shells a year. It has lost 2,500 tanks and, at best, can produce 200 tanks a year."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 497 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, The Insider, Financial Times