"Putin's Deadline: Halting Ukraine's Counteroffensive in One Month"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly given his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, until early October to halt Ukraine's counteroffensive and launch a serious offensive against a larger Ukrainian city. The demands from Putin may explain why Russia continues to launch costly counterattacks, despite the potential damage to its military. The Institute for the Study of War suggests that the Russian Ministry of Defense has previously pursued unachievable military objectives to avoid losing Putin's favor. Ukrainian forces have made slow progress in their counteroffensive, but have recently managed to push through some Russian defenses.