This is CBS I In The World.

I'm John Bachelor, to London, economist reporting.

On June 4, Ukrainian forces launched what Russia's Defense Ministry called a, quote,

large-scale assault on five axes in the southeast of Deneck province, eastern Ukraine.

Some of them may indeed threaten the land bridge, others were further to the north.

Most officials tell the economists that this does in fact mark the start of the offensive.

We go to the London Telegraph, the daily paper associated with the government, the conservatives.

Headline Ukraine launches multiple attacks along front line, and it claims counter-offensive

has begun.

Ukraine did not directly comment, goes the report, but the general and command of its ground

forces said, quote, they continue to move forward.

In quot, caution here is needed.

My analogy is the D-Day invasion, 79 years ago.

Midnight brought the first reports in eastern wartime from German shortwave radio,

monitored in New York.

The invasión, the invasion, was on.

There was no confirmation in Washington or New York for hours.

The Pentagon, the lights went on, people raised back to the office, but no confirmation.

It wasn't until three and a half hours after they first heard the German report of parachutes,

of extra bombing, of naval gunfire off of Padre Kale.

Three and a half hours later, there was a statement by General Eisenhower commanding the

supreme headquarters.

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