Russian defenses stronger than West expected, admits UK defense chief

Radakin said it was “a tough war,” in which times and achievements have to be adjusted.

“What you see is Ukraine adapting to a tough Russian defense, but (at the same time) taking the initiative and making progress," said Radakin, adding that Ukraine’s victory depended on its ability to outlast Russia.

"The military wins battles, but wars are usually won by economics and sustainability."

Radakin accompanied the UK’s newly appointed defense secretary, Grant Shapps on his first visit to Ukraine since replacing Ben Wallace earlier in September. The trip was an opportunity for Shapps to meet both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and new Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Shapps had previously visited Ukraine during the full-scale war as the UK’s Energy Minister.

Earlier in August, UK newspaper the Guardian reported on the warm relations between Radakin and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi. It is now customary for the British admiral to gift Zaluzhnyi a bottle of Glenmorangie Scottish malt whisky at their meetings, the newspaper reported.

Ukrainian counter-offensive — The latest

A new phase of Ukraine’s counter-offensive has now begun, with the main thrust in the southeast, where Ukrainian forces were gradually advancing through minefields and under Russian airstrikes, U.S. newspaper the New York Times reported earlier.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, responding earlier to criticism of the “slow pace” of the counter-offensive, told U.S. officials that Ukrainian forces were on the verge of a breakthrough in their southern counter-offensive, U.S. newspaper the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 24, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirmed the liberation of the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya Oblast by the Ukrainian military on Aug. 28. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have since been advancing further towards the Novodanylivka-Verbove area in southern Ukraine.

Now the defenders are moving further towards Novoprokopivka, Ocheretuvate, and have had success near Verbove.

Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria operational group in the southern part of the country, confirmed on Sept. 2 that Ukrainian forces had breached the first Russian defense line in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Ukrainian forces have also liberated part of the village of Opytne south of the front-line town of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, now former Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Sept. 11.

The Defense Forces liberated Klishchiyivka near Bakhmut on Sept. 17.

A major breakthrough in the counter-offensive would begin if Ukrainian forces were to liberate Tokmak in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Tarnavskyi has said.