An insider claims Putin ordered his defense minister to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive within a month — and it may explain why Russia is making costly attacks, war analysts say

• Putin has reportedly given his defense minister until early next month to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive.
• The Institute for the Study of War cited an "insider" Kremlin source as saying that Putin also wants his forces to launch a serious offensive against a larger Ukrainian city.
• These demands could explain why Russia is launching relentless counterattacks even if they come at a steep cost to the Russian military.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have given his defense minister until early next month to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive, according to the Institute for the Study of War.