Ukraine's counteroffensive began later than it had hoped as it waited for more Western weapons, giving Russia time to build up its defenses.

A former Army Ranger who fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine said the fighting in the Eastern European country was much worse than that in those other countries. David Bramlette told The Daily Beast that he had air support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The worst day in Afghanistan and Iraq is a great day in Ukraine,” he said.