Russia’s fight against Ukraine is going “according to plan,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 3.

“Dear comrades, I want to say that the special military operation is proceeding strictly in line with the timetable, according to plan. All the tasks that have been set are being successfully resolved,” Putin said.

According to some officials, including the British Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have met “staunch resistance” from Ukrainian forces and a large column that is advancing on Kyiv from the north has made little progress in recent days.