Russia insists it's working toward goals in Ukraine, even after troops retreat

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/12/ [login to see] /russia-kremlin-military-objectives-ukraine-counteroffensive
The Kremlin insisted Monday that it would achieve all its military goals in Ukraine — the Russian government's first public response to a Ukrainian counteroffensive that saw Kyiv's forces retake large swaths of territory in the country's northeast over the weekend.

"The 'special military operation' continues and will continue until we've achieved all objectives laid out at the beginning," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, using the government's description of its military campaign in Ukraine since it deployed troops in the country in February.