Top Ukrainian generals say counteroffensive is 'going to plan'
Ukrainian Armed Forces have yet to reach their "full potential," but two top generals exclusively told ABC News the counteroffensive is "going to plan" despite concerns from Western analysts that Ukraine is not making enough progress.
Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, who is leading the counteroffensive in the south, told ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz that the situation is "stable."
"The main thing is that we haven’t reached our full potential," Tarnavskiy said.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/Oleksandr-Syrskyi-abc-gmh-230703_1688410585628_hpMain.jpg)
Ukrainian troops launched the counteroffensive a month ago, attacking on multiple axes on the southern frontline in Zaporizhzia using Western-supplied vehicles. Ukraine succeeded in piercing Russian lines at two points, liberating a string of villages, but has since been locked in ferocious fighting
Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, told Raddatz that last month's failed rebellion by the Putin-backed PMC, the Wagner Group, wouldn't impact the fighting on the ground.
"It would be better for us if there were some negative consequences in Russia itself, but it doesn't matter for me," he said.
Asked if he was confident of retaking the key city of Bakhmut, Syrskyi said, "Yes, of course. I’m sure."
Both sides have suffered heavy casualties, according to Western officials, particularly in the south where Russia has so far conducted "relatively effective defensive operations" in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, the U.K. Ministry of Defense reported.
"The enemy is suffering eight times or even 10 times higher losses, especially with the number of killed troops," Syrksyi said.
-ABC News' Guy Davies and Meghan Mistry