Free Republic

Kiev's silence about the outcome of its much-anticipated counter offensive is raising questions whether President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team have overplayed their hand in trying to take on entrenched Russian forces too early. Especially with some unverified reports on social media suggesting the Ukrainians have taken heavy losses.

The only city captured intact by Putin’s forces remains a hotbed of resistance and partisan activity. It was the news many in Kherson had waited six months to hear. The Ukrainian counter-offensive launched this week to recapture the southern city was cheered by those who have suffered under Russian rule since Moscow’s forces took over in March. Residents in Kherson, strategically located on the Dnipro river that cuts across the country, reported hearing missile strikes and explosions around the city, which had made the Russian patrol increasingly jumpy. “The pro-Ukrainian activity of people who remain in Kherson is very high,”...

A kamikaze drone strike hit Russia's Navy headquarters in Crimea and sparked a huge explosion today, in another suspected Ukrainian raid. Smoke was seen billowing through the air this morning following the attack, which came despite frantic attempts from Putin's forces to shoot down the UAV, as seen in a video where repetitive gunfire is heard. The naval HQ suffered a direct hit, said reports while terrified Russian tourists fled the popular summer peninsula. Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev confirmed the attack, writing on Telegram: 'Unfortunately, [the drone] was not shot down, although they worked on the bay with small...