Russia says Ukraine is pulling back counteroffensive

Russia said on Thursday that Ukraine had reduced its activity on the front lines of the war to regroup and re-equip. In a report to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, said Ukraine had lost hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, and more than 13,000 troops.

Has Ukraine made any gains lately? Moscow-appointed officials in Crimea said on Thursday that a missile strike hit the Chongar Bridge to part of Russian-occupied Ukraine. No casualties were reported. Ukrainian authorities said the military was aiming to disrupt Russian supply routes between Crimea and southern Ukraine. Kyiv has made slow progress in its attempt to reclaim land occupied by Russian forces.

Dig deeper: Read William Fleeson’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Ukrainian Christians are delivering aid and hope to fellow Christians in the thick of battle.