Kyiv cannot delay the counteroffensive, because it must succeed in the summer-autumn period and show the West that Ukraine is capable of resisting Russia. This is reported by Washington Post (WP) sources, citing Ukrainian officials.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, offensive actions will lead to a large number of casualties and loss of equipment. The situation, according to WP, is exacerbated by the lack of Western aircraft for air cover and long-range artillery to strike deeper into Russian-held territories.
The newspaper’s sources explained that Kiev wants to score major battlefield successes in the summer and autumn, before the harsh winter sets in, and provide the West with proof that Ukraine is capable of defeating Russia.
The day before, Politico, quoting a senior Ukrainian official, wrote that Kiev does not want the West to push it to take hasty measures in a counter-offensive that could lead to costly large-scale failures, undermine the morale of the Ukrainian armed forces. and lead to serious geopolitical consequences.
Jack Watling, an expert at the British Royal Joint Defense Research Institute (RUSI), explained that as soon as it is possible to identify weaknesses in Russian positions and “maximize the likelihood of a breakthrough”, speed will be decisive – then a powerful blow may follow, as a result of which “a counter-offensive or break through or fail.
On June 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the start of a “large-scale offensive” by the Ukrainian armed forces in several regions. The department explained that the AFU aimed to break through the defense in the most vulnerable sector, in their opinion, of the front. The Ukrainian army did not fulfill the set tasks, the Defense Ministry added. On June 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukrainian counteroffensive had “absolutely” begun. The next day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that the Ukrainian armed forces were carrying out “counter-offensive actions”. The country’s defense ministry said there would be no official announcement of the offensive.
Read the Latest Ukraine War News on The Eastern Herald.
