The staggering success Ukraine had in fighting off Russia’s attack on the nation’s capital Kiev in January this year might have won the respect of observers and, more importantly, military donors from around the world, but it did not bring the nation peace.

Rather, it set the scene for slow and brutal advances by Russia across Ukraine’s eastern and southern flanks in the months since, often under the cover of artillery barrages more typical of the wars that scarred Europe last century.

Then, just over a week ago, Ukrainian forces unleashed attacks on battlegrounds to the south east and north east of the capital.  In days they took back 6000 square kilometres of territory, cutting Russian supply lines and in some areas forcing invading troops back to their own border.

The counter-offensive has been lauded as a cunning and complicated feat of arms and prompted one US general to quip that Russia’s gone from having the second best army on Earth, to the second best in Ukraine.

But is it enough for forge a path to victory or to end the war?

Today on Please Explain, political correspondent Anthony Galloway joins Nick O’Malley to discuss the latest in the ongoing war.

The staggering success Ukraine had in fighting off Russia’s attack on the nation’s capital Kiev in January this year might have won the respect of observers and, more importantly, military donors from around the world, but it did not bring the nation peace.
Rather, it set the scene for slow and brutal advances by Russia across Ukraine’s eastern and southern flanks in the months since, often under the cover of artillery barrages more typical of the wars that scarred Europe last century.
Then, just over a week ago, Ukrainian forces unleashed attacks on battlegrounds to the south east and north east of the capital.  In days they took back 6000 square kilometres of territory, cutting Russian supply lines and in some areas forcing invading troops back to their own border.
The counter-offensive has been lauded as a cunning and complicated feat of arms and prompted one US general to quip that Russia’s gone from having the second best army on Earth, to the second best in Ukraine.
But is it enough for forge a path to victory or to end the war?
Today on Please Explain, political correspondent Anthony Galloway joins Nick O’Malley to discuss the latest in the ongoing war.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

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