Ukraine winning war with Russia, retired U.S. generals say, as top Ukrainian commander says over 230 square miles retaken

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June 9, 2026 / 2:47 PM EDT

/ CBS News

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Kyiv — Several retired U.S. generals and the former director of a U.S. intelligence agency told CBS News they believe Ukraine now has the upper hand in the war with Russia.They gave that assessment to CBS News as Ukraine's top general Oleksandr Syrski said this week that his army has retaken 600 square kilometers — about 232 square miles — from Russia so far this year. Syrski did not say where the gains occurred but said the fighting was heaviest in the country's southeast Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole areas."I would assess operationally Ukraine is winning in the context they are defeating enemy operational objectives, creating conditions for follow-on operations and preserving freedom of action," retired Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said in an email this week.Two generals agreed with Ashley's characterization, stressing the view that on the front lines, Ukraine was outmaneuvering Russia.