Reports from Russian and American officials suggest that fighting has escalated in multiple sectors of Ukrainian front lines, as Ukrainian forces have increased their artillery strikes and ground assaults. The apparent surge in attacks has prompted speculation that Ukraine’s long-planned counteroffensive against the Russian forces has begun. American officials cited activity detected by US military satellites as evidence to support their assessment, although determining the exact start of a counteroffensive can be challenging when the fighting could begin with diversions or feints that are hard to decipher. In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it had repelled the Ukrainian assaults and inflicted casualties on Ukrainian forces but received no immediate response from the Ukrainian authorities to the statements. If successful, such counteroffensives could help Ukraine gain greater international assistance and security assurances, as well as potentially strengthen President Volodymyr Zelensky’s position in any peace talks with Russia.
