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It’s a modest win for Ukraine as its counteroffensive in the south grinds on into its third month.<\/p>\n
A study earlier this month by the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think-tank, found that Ukrainian forces are averaging 700-1,200 meters of progress every five days.<\/p>\n
That gives Russian forces time to dig in and especially to mine territory as they pull back.<\/p>\n
The 3rd Assault Brigade, composed entirely of volunteers and considered one of Ukraine\u2019s best and most experienced corps, has been fighting almost nonstop in the east since January, while less-experienced units received new training and modern weapons to fight in the south.<\/p>\n
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In a symbolic win, Ukraine struck the headquarters of Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet in a missile attack Friday that left a serviceman missing and the main building smouldering, according to military officials on both sides of the war and images from the scene in Crimea.<\/p>\n
The Russian Defense Ministry initially said one service member was killed but then issued a statement saying he was missing following the attack in the port city of Sevastopol.<\/p>\n
The Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has been a frequent target since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost 19 months ago.<\/p>\n
Crimea has served as the key hub supporting Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n
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Don’t miss… <\/strong> Sevastopol, the main base of Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet since the 19th century, has had a particular importance for navy operations since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n Ukraine has increasingly targeted naval facilities in Crimea in recent weeks while the brunt of its summer counteroffensive makes slow gains in the east and south of Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War said Thursday.<\/p>\n Military experts say it is essential for Ukraine to keep up its attacks on targets in Crimea to degrade Russian morale and weaken its military.<\/p>\n The attack came a day after Russia pounded cities across Ukraine with missiles and artillery strikes, killing at least five people.<\/p>\n
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