Where next for Ukraine’s army?

ago analysts wondered whether Ukraine had the capacity for a big offensive. Now they ask how far it will go. Ukraine’s army has swept through north-eastern Kharkiv province , liberating huge swathes of territory. In the south it is squeezing Russian units trapped on the west bank of the Dnieper river in Kherson. Russia’s army is depleted, disoriented and demoralised. But Ukraine’s general staff must decide whether to husband their resources or press home their advantage with a third attack. The offensive in Kharkiv appears to have largely run its course, for now, with Russian units having retreated east of the Oskil river and reservoir. But fighting continues along the ragged edges of the new front lines. Ukraine’s army has captured Studenok and Sosnove on the east bank of the Donets river (into which the Oskil flows). It is also attacking in the north of Donetsk province around the town of Lyman. These moves threaten Russian positions in neighbouring Luhansk province—positions that were captured over the summer, such as Lysychansk (Donetsk and Luhansk together make up the Donbas region). Partisan activity continues, too. On September 16th explosions in Russian-occupied Luhansk city killed the region’s top prosecutor along with his deputy.