Moscow claims attacks were retaliatory

"Russia’s defence ministry says all targets were hit in overnight air attacks on Ukraine’s Odesa
and Mykolaiv ports, describing them as a “mass revenge strike” to avenge an assault on the Crimea bridge." AlJazeera

Zelensky, Pentagon Acknowledge Counteroffensive Had To Be "Paused" Amid Losses

"The New York Times in a weekend story admitted that things are looking grim for the
chances of Ukraine's counteroffensive, acknowledging that President Zelensky had been forced to put it on "pause" at one point....... losses have also slowed because the counteroffensive itself has slowed — and even halted in places — as Ukrainian soldiers struggle against Russia’s formidable defenses. And despite the losses, the Ukrainians have so far taken just five of the 60 miles they hope to cover to reach the sea in the south and split the Russian forces in two.....within the first couple weeks of the counteroffensive Ukraine forces lost some 20% of the weaponry newly supplied by the West, including tanks and armored vehicles. The report underscored that that the Pentagon has since publicly acknowledged the "pause"." ZH