Ukraine is counter-attacking in multiple directions, with mixed results

UKRAINE IS JUST a week into its against the Russians, but already the reports from the frontlines range from upbeat to gloomy. On June 11th its 68th brigade reported that it had liberated Blahodatne, a village in Donetsk province, 10km inside Russian-occupied territory. Russian military bloggers suggested that the raid had gone much deeper still, and taken in other nearby villages. There was some progress made near Bakhmut further north-east, too, with Ukrainians advancing to encircle the devastated town that has been the only real focus of Russia’s offensive efforts for the past year.