I'm John Bachelor with my colleague and co-host Bill Rajo of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy,

and we're very pleased to have John Hardy of the FTD here to help us on where the Ukraine-Russia

war is going if we can see that far ahead through the fog of war.

On the ground forces, the Kirk salient looks to be widening or at least

securing. Striking me, John, most are remarks by the Kremlin or so-called remarks.

These are passed through several filters.

This is a war of propaganda.

That the Kremlin is willing to accept the cursed salient, advanced not only to surjib, but toward

curse itself, and not counter it immediately. At the same time we're told that the

Russians are making advances inside Nova Rossia.

I want to start with the Kursalian.

I have no up-to-date information.

What is the scale of it? How many brigades are in there? And is there a plan beyond where they are right now?

Right, so the situation in terms of territorial control has it changed a whole lot since we last spoke a few days ago

I think the Ukrainian grouping probably numbers somewhere around 10 to 20,000 with maybe roughly half of those in support

functions and the others being kind of combat roles.

I think the Ukrainians are still right now focused on expanding their

flanks of that salient pressing into Kurskoblast. So pushing west of Suja and southeast of Suja to try to create a more defensible pocket there.

And the Russians have continued to flow forces.

Most recently, we've seen footage of some VDV units

coming from Southern Ukraine.

But so far, the Russians don't seem to have taken the bait in that they have not

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