Ukraine live briefing: U.S. says it did not encourage or enable Ukraine to strike within Russia

A commander manning one of Ukraine’s forward-most positions zoomed in on his tablet to show how Kyiv’s forces in the area have advanced within five miles of Kreminna— an occupied stronghold for the Russian military and potential gateway for the Ukrainian forces as they press into the eastern Luhansk region.

“We’ve pushed them back, and now we just need to take their logistical routes,” said the deputy battalion commander in the Ukrainian National Guard’s 5th Slobozhanska Brigade, whom The Washington Post agreed to identify by his call sign, Tor, because of the security risks.

“As soon as they lose that, they’ll have to abandon their positions,” Tor said. “They won’t be able to bring in reinforcements or more ammunition.”

Cunningham and Ryan reported from Washington. Dan Lamothe in Washington and Liz Sly in London contributed reporting.