Day 223 Roundup: Ukraine Launches Attacks on Luhansk; Russian Lawmakers Ratify Annexation of Four Regions

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The Facts

  • Following vast advances in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian forces have neared the administrative border of Luhansk – one of four territories annexed by Russia on Tuesday – and launched a number of attacks on the region in the last 24 hrs, according to the exiled head of the military administration for the region, Serhiy Haidai.

  • In contrast, Andrei Marochko, a military official from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), claimed Ukrainian forces had attempted to cross the administrative border but were "destroyed" by pro-Russian forces that pushed them back to their previously held positions. The claim couldn't be independently confirmed.


The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

Ukrainian forces advancing through Kharkiv into the Luhansk region are destroying Russia's most elite and valuable troops, all while the Kremlin continues struggling to train and equip new personnel effectively. The gains from this counter-offensive could mark a turning point in favor of Ukraine.

Pro-Russia narrative

Russian forces are holding the line against Ukrainian counterattacks, coming at an exceptionally high cost to manpower and military equipment for Ukraine's army. These losses are not sustainable, and Russia will continue to secure newly annexed regions and defend its populations.


Metaculus Prediction


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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