Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Sep 2023 09:07
  • 7 Shares
3 Min Read

The British broadcaster says in a field report that Russia's drone capabilities has ensured that the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive is even slower and harder.

  • x
  • BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed
    Ukrainian soldiers rest in a trench on the frontline near Kreminna, Lugansk region on June 8, 2023. (AP)

Ukraine's long-discussed counteroffensive is nearing its end without any significant progress, BBC concluded in a field report conducted at the east front lines in Ukraine.

"The BBC has secured rare access to the 24th Mechanised Brigade, who have been fighting in the east," said the British broadcaster on Wednesday.

In a bid to regain lost ground, Ukraine launched a much-anticipated counteroffensive in early June. The operation fell short of meeting its objective, as per US officials, while major media outlets went as far as calling it a failure.

Read more: CIA informs Blinken of Ukraine counteroffensive failure: Hersh

Despite the massive military support to Ukraine, media outlets on Kiev's side confirmed earlier that the West and NATO failed to "outgun Russia," which continues to repel Ukrainian attacks, as well as destroy and capture their foreign-provided hardware.

Discussing ariel capabilities, the BBC correspondent said, citing Ukrainian soldiers, that Russia's drone capacity exceeds that of Ukraine in terms of numbers. This gave the Russian forces the ability to continuously target Ukrainian positions and vehicles nonstop, which forced Ukraine's soldiers to remain cautious and seek hideouts, in turn slowing down ground progress even more amid weak air defense capabilities as well.

"The Ukrainians say [Russia] has far more drones, which makes camouflage and remaining unseen vital. So, we were expecting a fire mission within 5 minutes, and then word came down on the radio to stand down because a Russian drone has been sighted somewhere near here," the reporter said.

Read more: US 'lying' about failed Ukraine counteroffensive: Ex-CIA analyst

Related News

Terrorists in Syria's Aleppo attack dormitory, kill 4 students

Former UK SecDef urges Ukraine to conscript more 'young blood'

If Ukrainian forces fail to shelter away from sight, Russia's military will certainly target them and their hardware.

"This is typical of what has been taking place: a constant battle of wits, a deadly battle of wits. This Russian video shows what happens if you get it wrong: Ukrainian self-propelled guns destroyed."

Many Ukrainian soldiers live in imminent stress, which is made worse given that troops don't know for how long they would have to stay at the front lines.

"No date has been set for their demobilization. It's extremely hard to live with that. Just how hard we saw at the medical center, where one casualty was being brought in. It was described as a panic attack and even armed presence was setting people on edge," the correspondent emphasized.

Read more: US wants Ukraine to go all in on counteroffensive, take all risks: FT

"The summer counter-offensive in Ukraine is drawing to a close without making the breakthroughs Ukraine and its allies had hoped for," the report found.

Not a movie

The goal of the counteroffensive was to seize the city and cut Russia's access to Crimea via land, and despite the billions of dollars put toward Kiev, minimal territorial gain has been achieved.

Last week, Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, who is leading the operation in the south, told CNN that Kiev's troops managed to make some breakthroughs in Russian defense lines.

However, the field general acknowledged that the progress had not been as swift as hoped, cautioning against unrealistic expectations akin to portrayals in "Second World War movies."

  • counteroffensive
  • Russia
  • war in Ukraine
  • Ukraine
  • BBC

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS