Russia continues to shell Ukrainian cities amid grinding offensive push in Donbas
PBS NewsHourJUL 2023
Day 355: Russia Claims Gains Along Ukraine Frontline
Image copyright: AP Photos [via The Washington Post]
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Russia's inability to take the Donetsk city of Bakhmut is symbolic of its wider deficiencies that will prevent it from conducting further successful offensives in Ukraine.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russian forces continue to make advances in the Donetsk. It's only a matter of time before they take the city of Bakhmut and the remainder of the Donetsk region.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 2% chance that Ukraine will officially recognize a former Ukrainian territory (Luhansk, Donetsk or Crimea) as independent before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
