As Ukraine military retakes territory, Russia cuts power to eastern region

Judy Woodruff:

Ukraine's military is pushing ahead with a fast-moving counteroffensive against Russian occupiers and has retaken territory in both the country's northeast and south. The move has taken Russian troops by surprise and provoked outrage in Moscow among supporters of the war.

Nick Schifrin has our report from Kharkiv.

Nick Schifrin:

First, they ripped through Russian lines, then the Russian flag, another day, another Ukrainian town liberated. The videos are filmed by Ukrainian soldiers who wipe their shoes on the enemy's flag before raising their own, after seven months of Russian occupation.

The Russian route happened so quickly, their troops left behind dozens, if not hundreds of armored vehicles and entire stockpiles of weapons and munitions. On Russian TV, Russia's appointed Kharkiv administrator admitted today, his forces were badly outnumbered.

Vitaly Ganchev, Head of Russian-Installed Administration of Kharkiv (through translator): In order to preserve our personnel, I think commander decided to retreat and regroup. The situation is becoming more difficult by the day.

Nick Schifrin:

That admission sparked rare doubt on state TV.

Boris Nadezhdin is a regular pundit.

Boris Nadezhdin, Former Russian Politician (through translator):

It's absolutely impossible to defeat Ukraine using these resources and colonial war methods with which Russia is trying to wage war without mobilization.

Nick Schifrin:

Ukraine's gains began in cities that Russian troops used as logistics hubs and command posts and then spread to much of the Kharkiv region.

In response, Russia launched its largest recent strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including this power station outside Kharkiv. It cause water shortages and a blackout in a region 250 miles across.

And Russia has now struck civilian targets inside of Kharkiv city. This was a law enforcement building. Firefighters have been trying to fight the fire for the last couple hours. But because Russia has now hit critical infrastructure in Ukraine, they're sort of water. So they're struggling to overcome the fire.

Fourteen fire brigades battle the fire that killed one person inside. It spread rapidly through a building that firefighters said was full of wood. The Russian rockets hit near the middle of the city in the middle of the day.

Volodymyr Tymoshko, Kharkiv Chief of Police (through translator): the second day in a row, they are destroying the city. I think it shows their weakness, because these people can't do anything else other than caused the defenseless pain.

Nick Schifrin:

Volodymyr Tymoshko is the Kharkiv regional police chief. He called today's attack with a multiple-launch rocket system indiscriminate terrorism.

Volodymyr Tymoshko (through translator):

Because this — quote — "second greatest army of the world" can only destroy the civilian population, it shows their lack of capabilities, and that they're savages. They're barbarians and the whole world sees that.

Nick Schifrin:

In total, Russia has struck the city and its outskirts at least a half-dozen times. This one landed across the street from 78-year-old Lidia Vasilivna's home. She has a message for Putin.

Lidia Vasilivna, Kharkiv Resident (through translator):

I have lived a long life, but I never thought this bastard would come to our native land. Why are they destroying children and people? He's a bastard.

Nick Schifrin:

Ukraine tries to harness that anger and its recent success to increase Western support. One of the officials asking for that support is Ihor Zhovkva, President Zelenskyy's deputy chief of staff in charge of foreign relations.

I spoke to him this weekend at the Yalta European strategy conference.

Welcome to the "NewsHour."

Ihor Zhovkva, Zelenskyy Deputy Chief of Staff: Thank you for having me.

Nick Schifrin:

Are you worried about what one U.S. official told me, Ukraine fatigue, the West losing patience, losing the ability to continue to support Ukraine for the long term?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Well, really, if you ask me personally, I'm not.

We are fighting. We are struggling. We are making success. Maybe Russia wants the world to have Ukraine's fatigue. But, again, what we hear from our partners, this is far away the case.

Nick Schifrin:

As the saying goes, winter is coming. And there's a lot of talk here about making progress before the winter. Are you worried about when winter arrives and natural gas prices in Western Europe go up, Europeans are paying more for their gas, that that will erode support for Ukraine?

Ihor Zhovkva:

If, in Western countries, people suffer from a little bit higher prices, here in Ukraine, people dying.

So, if we all together will have to tighten our belts throughout these 90 days of winter,in spring, we will come out much more stronger, much more safer, much more united, hopefully, and much more near to Ukraine's victory.

Nick Schifrin:

How important is it, do you think, that the counteroffensive succeed or have a level of success in the next few weeks or months before the wintertime starts, in order for that political support for Ukraine to continue?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Definitely, time matters for us.

It's in interests of Russia to prolong the war, to drag on with the war. Yes, probably, they were counting on the wintertime as much easier to defend, to fortify its positions, and much difficult to make an offensive.

And, again, it will be Ukrainian decision when to start, where to start, how to start, because, once again, our general aim to liberate our territories.

Nick Schifrin:

President Biden recently said that he opposed labeling Russia a state sponsor of terror. What's your response to that?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Well, I don't think this is a final full stop on this issue. This is the bullet which will definitely make the final end to this aggression.

Besides the instrumental thing which it entails, cutting all the trade, making more severe controlling the financial system, it has a very important moral meaning. It has a very important signal. Russia is good at reading signals.

Nick Schifrin:

The U.S. continues to deny Ukraine's request to send longer-range munitions for the HIMARS system, for the multiple-launch rocket system that Ukraine is asking for.

What's your response to that continuing resistance to send some of the longer-range weapons that you're asking for?

Ihor Zhovkva:

I think everyone in the U.S. and in other countries see that Ukrainians know how to fight. They know how to fight with a modern weapon. That was the concern in the beginning, probably, Ukrainians, we won't be able to use this.

We are using them, sometimes better than some other armies in the world. And we will continue to do this, and we will continue to say we do not want any other territory, but we have all the rights to take back each and every inch, each and every piece of Ukrainian territory…

Nick Schifrin:

Does that include Crimea?

Ihor Zhovkva:

… be it Kherson, be it Donbass, and, yes, be it Crimea.

Nick Schifrin:

Has Ukraine used American weapons to attack Crimea?

Ihor Zhovkva:

I don't know. I'm not a general. But we see that something not good for Russia is happening in the Crimea, which really satisfies us.

We need more and more heavy weaponry. Yes, we need air defense systems. Yes, we need our ammunition. Yes, we need armored vehicles and tanks. We are fighting. But in order to win, finally win, we need more and more weapons.

Nick Schifrin:

Ukraine's government needs at least $5 billion a month just to make up for budget shortfalls. Are you getting enough economic support from the West, separate from all that military support?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Not enough. Right you are. We need up to $5 billion, $6 billion per month just in order to have our payment system, social payments, salaries to the soldiers who are fighting on the forefront.

It's very important for the world now to help us financially and economically and helping us to win. It will not stop the aggression here in Ukraine. It will spread, definitely.

Nick Schifrin:

Do you think the world needs to be prepared to support Ukraine's government with $5 billion a month indefinitely?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Yes.

Nick Schifrin:

Do you think the West will really step up and do that?

Ihor Zhovkva:

Well, if not the West, then who? I mean, we have to be united.

And it's in everyone's interests for Ukraine to win and to be successful later on.

Nick Schifrin:

Ihor Zhovkva, thank you very much.

Ihor Zhovkva:

Thank you.