u. k. is patrick period defense and security analyst at the university of boss and a former british army officer, a warm welcome to you all and thanks so much for joining us today on inside story. patrick, let me start with you today is what we're witnessing now. the start of the ukrainian counter offensive, is that what we're seeing? i think so. yeah, it's the next phase. the 1st phase is what we call the shaving phase. where are you frame is trying to set the conditions as best as possible to facilitate the next phase of this phase is basically reconnaissance and for a probing they're using their ground forces, especially in the southeast and the division between the zachary uh, bass, online. they're attacking and around a tangle of noble donuts, and they've had some success there already. some reports, credible reports suggest 5 to 6 kilometers the bottom since yesterday. and so i think that's where we are. they're not committing all our forces. they're attacking actually in a number of different places, some to the north in black moods as well. and they're basically because they are small. a