Top Ukrainian generals say counteroffensive is 'going to plan' as losses mount

Ukrainian Armed Forces have yet to reach their "full potential" but two top generals say the counteroffensive is "going to plan" despite anxiety among some Western analysts that Ukraine is not making enough progress.So far things are developing according to plans that were drawn up and approved," Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, said in an interview with ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz.Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, who is leading the counteroffensive in the south, said the situation is "stable."

The abortive coup from the Wagner Group, the private military company headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has led to speculation that President Vladimir Putin is losing his grip on power in the Russian Federation. Syrskyi, however, said the aftermath of the failed coup would not impact the fighting on the ground.The events in Russia itself had no impact on fighting in the area of responsibility of my group of troops," he said. "It would be better for us if there were some negative consequences in Russia itself. But it doesn't matter for me."

Progress has been far slower than the lightning speed of the fall counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, which saw Russian forces taken by surpriseIn recent days though there have been growing signs of progress, with Ukraine making advances around Bakhmut, the eastern city that Russia suffered tens of thousands of casualties trying to take. Ukraine has also succeeded in establishing a small beachhead on the Russian-held eastern side of the Dnieper River across from Kherson.

The goal, Ukrainian commanders and officials have suggested, is to wear down Russian forces enough to create a breakthrough that can be exploited by Ukraine’s main counteroffensive force. Ukraine has still not engaged all of the brigades it assembled for the counteroffensive or the weapons provided by Western allies.The slow progress has led to some pessimistic assessments of the counteroffensive's prospects. In reality, both Ukrainian officials and troops on the ground -- as well as many independent analysts -- say this is still only the first phase and what they always knew would likely be the most difficult one.We all wish to achieve this result but so far things are developing according to plans that were drawn up and approved," said Syrksyi. "I would call it a natural process of achieving our victory without any pressure or pushes from anyone."