Ukrainian counteroffensive has made ‘notable’ progress in south over past three days, US says

White House spokesman John Kirby also said reports quoting anonymous US officials criticising Ukrainian effort were not helpful'

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Ukraine has made notable progress" in its southern offensive over the past 72 hours, a top US security official has said, as Kyiv said its troops had broken through Russia's first line of defences in several places.

In Washington, White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said the US had noted over the last 72 hours or so some notable progress by Ukrainian armed forces ... in that southern line of advance coming out of the Zaporizhzhia area".