Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 609
GuardianJUL 2023
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Russia's failed assault on Avdiivka shows how hard it is for Russian forces to shift the frontline. Though Putin wants to throw his reserves into costly operations around Ukraine's eastern cities, Moscow will suffer heavy losses as entrenched Ukrainian forces continue to hold back the Russian advance.
Pro-Russia narrative
The Ukrainian counteroffensive was doomed to fail from the start. It's clear Kyiv is bound to lose the war as Ukrainian troops have suffered enormous casualties. With an air offensive, Russia will exert more pressure on Kyiv, which explains why the West is now rushing more weapons to the battlefield.