The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov announced the readiness of the army for a counteroffensive Ukraine is ready to attack, the troops are waiting for the decision of the command, suitable weather and "God's will," said Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov.
According to him, Ukraine has received a large number of armored vehicles and tanks from Western partners. Reznikov pointed out that some of the equipment is still on the way, and the American Abrams will not have time to take part in the offensive operation. The NYT wrote that the offensive is planned for May.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said that the Ukrainian army is "globally ready" for a counteroffensive.
At the same time, Reznikov pointed out that not all training courses for the Ukrainian military on the management of Western equipment have yet been completed. According to Reuters, thousands of Ukrainian servicemen have already been trained in Western countries and trained in the combined use of various military means on the battlefield.
"The training is being completed, in addition to weapons and equipment, our military has yet to master it. We have received very modern systems, especially in the part of the "armored fist". Let me remind you that in addition to the tank coalition, which primarily includes Leopard 2 and Challenger, Leopard 1 will arrive a little later," he said.
He stressed that Ukraine is also expecting American Abrams tanks, but they will not have time to arrive for this counteroffensive, according to the minister.
Image source: Alina Jus/"Newspaper.Ru"
According to the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the country has received a large number of armored vehicles of various types from Western partners. In particular, Bradley, Marder, Stryker, CV 90 and others.
"In addition to the fact that weapons are provided, they need to be mastered. The equipment is promised, prepared and partially delivered. In general, we are ready," Reznikov told reporters.
Kiev hopes that the planned counteroffensive will change the course of military operations. In its latest daily report, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that the most fierce battles are taking place for Bakhmut.
The date is unknown, the direction is also unknown
Reports and suggestions about a possible counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army have been appearing for several months, but no one has yet called the dates of the alleged operation.
In early March, the adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Mikhail Podolyak, admitted that the country's armed forces would go on the offensive in two months. On April 15, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said that the offensive could begin in the summer.
Already on April 19, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar called the expectation of a counteroffensive pointless, since it does not involve a single large-scale military operation.
In turn, the head of the joint coordinating press center of the defense forces "South" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Natalia Gumenyuk pointed out that the counteroffensive is already "quietly going in small steps." According to her, it consists in reducing the capacity of the Russian army.
The directions and goals of the offensive are called different. In particular, on April 11, the head of the Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said that the authorities were ready to attack the peninsula. Acting Governor of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo expressed the opinion that Ukrainian troops could launch an offensive on the territory of the region.
Bild, citing NATO analysts, wrote that the main directions of Ukraine's counteroffensive will be Zaporozhye and Lugansk, and one of the goals is to stop Russia's ground communication with Crimea.
On April 25, The New York Times newspaper, citing leaked documents of American intelligence and the Pentagon, wrote that Kiev intends to prepare 12 brigades of 4 thousand soldiers each by the end of April in order to launch an offensive in the southern direction in May.
Alice Andreeva
