US notices significant progress of Ukrainian counteroffensive in south

This is reported by Reuters.

"We have 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, and they have achieved some success against that second line of Russian defenses," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Speaking to journalists during a conference call, Kirby noted that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to use its success.

"That is not to say ...that they aren't mindful that they've still got some tough fighting ahead of them as they try to push further south" or that Russia could launch a counter effort, he added.

Kirby added that he was unable to confirm reports that Russia's Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, which could be nuclear-capable, had been put on combat duty.

• On August 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reported that the Ukrainian military was successfully pushing back the Russians during counteroffensives, gradually driving the enemy from its positions, and was able to break through some of the invading troops' fortified defense lines.

• On Friday, September 1, the Russian strategic missile system Sarmat was allegedly put on combat duty.