As one retired US general put it, Kyiv's forces needs to break through "20 kilometers of hell," which is no easy task, especially with the tools at hand.
Russia's troops have built layers of sophisticated and vicious defenses designed to inflict as much pain on Ukraine's advancing military as possible.
As Ukrainian forces prepared for their offensive, Russian forces spent those months readying elaborate defenses behind a sprawling front line that stretches for hundreds of miles across eastern and southern Ukraine.
"This is 20 kilometers of hell," Kimmitt said, referring to the layers of defenses.
"So, the story of this counteroffensive is far from written, and we will continue to support Ukraine along the way."
Persons:
Mark Kimmitt, Kimmitt, they're, Mark Milley, Jake Sullivan, Biden
Organizations:
Service, US, NATO, US Army, Coalition Forces, Maxar Technologies, Street, Joint Chiefs, Staff, National
Locations:
Russia, US, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Iraq, Yevpatoria, Crimea