Amid a slogging counteroffensive, Ukraine sees a day of good fortune: a Russian air defense system was destroyed, one Russian pilot successfully defected, and, now, the Wagner leader may be dead.

• Ukraine has made advances but at the expense of increased casualties during its counteroffensive.
• Some officials have criticized Ukraine's strategy while others have pointed to the slow gains.
• Wednesday brought a string of good news for Ukraine amid the 3-month-long counteroffensive.

Ukraine is looking at a streak of good fortune on Wednesday amid months of a brutal counteroffensive against Russia that has often been criticized for its slow progress and incremental territorial gains.