Senior Pentagon Official Gives Update on Ukrainian Counterattack

Pentagon Official’s Assessment

A senior Pentagon official said on Friday that the Ukrainian counterattack against Russian forces is slower than expected, but it is too early to draw conclusions about Kyiv’s prospects for success on the battlefield.

“It’s too early to judge whether a counterattack has been launched,” Undersecretary of Defense for Political Affairs Colin Kahl told reporters.

Ukrainian Testing of Russian Lines

He also added: “They are still testing Russian lines and Russian regions to identify weaknesses,” adding that “the real test will be when they identify these points and how quickly they can exploit these weaknesses.”

Cluster Munitions

The comments came as he announced the delivery of cluster munitions, which the Pentagon hopes will help provide sufficient firepower to Ukraine.

“We want to make sure that the Ukrainians have enough artillery to keep fighting in the current counter-offensive, and also because things are going a little slower than some hoped,” he said.

Some US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed optimism that Kiev has all the weapons it needs, including mine-clearing equipment and minesweepers.

“Steel Mountain”

Notably, the United States and other allies have spent months building a so-called “steel mountain” of weapons in Ukraine and training Ukrainian forces in combined arms to help Kiev break through Russia’s formidable defenses during its counteroffensive.

But Moscow has also spent months digging defensive positions, laying anti-personnel mines around them, and building armed fortifications that have slowed Ukraine’s advance east and south.