In the face of dramatic territorial gains by Ukraine, Russia is saying little

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia would achieve all of its aims in the military operation in Ukraine, its first public response to dramatic Ukrainian gains on the battlefield in the Kharkiv region.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to answer directly, when asked by a reporter if President Vladimir Putin had confidence in his military leadership, replying that the "special operation" would continue until it had achieved its goals.

"The military operation continues," Peskov said. "And it will continue until the goals that were originally set are achieved."

Peskov went on to say that Putin is in constant contact with military commanders in Ukraine, and is regularly briefed on military developments.

Asked if Putin would order a general mobilization in response to Ukraine's counter-offensive, Peskov referred the question to the defence ministry.

It was the first reaction from the Kremlin to the lightning Ukrainian counter-offensive last week.

Putin was later shown on state TV chairing a meeting on the economy at which he made no reference to the retreat and said Russia was holding up well in the face of Western sanctions.

"The economic blitzkrieg tactics, the onslaught they were counting on, did not work," he said.

In Washington, the White House vowed to keep up support for Ukraine. Joe Biden's administration has committed over $15 billion US in military and other aid so far.

"We'll leave it to Ukraine to describe their operations but it is clear they are fighting hard to take back territory," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

"We will continue to support Ukraine as they continue to defend their democracy against Russian aggression."

Ukraine's general staff said early on Monday that its soldiers had recaptured more than 20 towns and villages in just the past day, after Russia acknowledged it was abandoning Izium, its main stronghold in northeastern Ukraine.

Joyful residents returned to former front-line villages and Moscow grappled with the consequences of the collapse of its occupation force in northeastern Ukraine.

"People are crying, people are joyful, of course. How could they not be joyful?" said retired English teacher Zoya, 76, north of Kharkiv in the village of Zolochiv, 18 kilometres from the Russian frontier. She wept as she described the months she had spent sheltering in the cellar.