I'm John that's who with Bill Rajo, who keeps the long war journal. He's a senior fellow

of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy. And we're visiting with John Hardy also of

Eddd who is written up in great detail the advances by the Russians these last

days. You've heard of Avdivka, a new name is Chasevyaar, and the Russians are advancing

what appears to be incrementally, with units that include the Airborne Division.

That used to be their best stuff. However, we are coming to the

celebration of the victory of the great patriotic war, the May Day Parade in Moscow, and therefore there's reason to believe that

the Russians are looking for some way to mark this back home. If you've seen

any of the ads on the bus stops in Moscow, they present what appears to be a fully well-equipped and ferocious looking soldier conducting patriotic service in Ukraine.

And, John, your measure of Chassev Yar after Avdivka,

have the Russians gained an advantage and remark

by the chief of staff of the Kief about the position that

deteriorating are the Ukrainians now in a defensive position or are they vulnerable?

Sure, so across most parts of the front Russia does have the initiative.

I think two key areas as you mentioned of Devka Chassiv Yar.

Of Devka, your listeners might remember this is a small city near D'Anets city,

the capital of D'Anes-last and eastern Ukraine of Difka

fell to the Russians in mid-February. Since then the Russians have taken a

handful of low-lying towns west of the city. The products initially seem to stall, but within the past few weeks has picked back up as they've been pushing northwest of Avdivka, including onto some towns located on high grounds, which is tactically

advantageous for artillery, for F. P. B, drone strikes, things of that nature.

So the rate of advance has quickened a bit,

although we should say that in absolute terms,

...