“It’s time to take back what is ours.” These are the words of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commenting on a video published on Telegram containing a prayer for the liberation of Ukraine. “Bless our decisive offensive!” he wrote after reports from Ukrinform, which subsequently quoted the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff Facebook page, that this was done as part of the “information support campaign” for the armed forces, and that it was “a spectacular video ‘ dedicated to the liberation of Ukraine from the Russian invaders.
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One of Ukraine’s top security officials, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, meanwhile announced in an interview with the BBC that the country is ready to launch the counter-offensive, which could take place “tomorrow”, the day after tomorrow or between a week “The Ukrainian government – he added – “cannot afford to make mistakes in this decision”, since it is a “historic opportunity” which “we cannot miss”.
The Ukrainian armed forces – explained Danilov – will launch the attack when the commanders have calculated that “at this very stage of the war we can achieve the best result”. And when asked whether the Ukrainian armed forces were ready for the offensive, he replied: “We are always ready. Just as we were always ready to defend our country. And it’s not a matter of timing.” “We must understand that we must not miss this historic opportunity that God has given us for our country, so that we can truly become a great independent European country,” he added.
“It could happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or in a week,” he continued. “It would be strange,” he later remarked, “if I had to give the start dates of this or that event. That is not possible… We have a task with great responsibility towards our country. And we understand that.” We have no right to make mistakes.
Regarding the rumors of a counter-offensive already underway, Danilov pointed out that they were unfounded: “The destruction of Russian control centers and Russian military equipment” has been the task of the Ukrainian armed forces since February 24 last year. We have no days off in this war.”
DANILOV ON BBC, INTERVIEW WITH CALL ZELENSKY
The BBC interview, in which Danilov spoke about the announced Ukrainian counter-offensive to liberate areas occupied by Russian forces, was interrupted by a phone message in which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summoned Danilov to a meeting specifically devoted to the planned Ukrainian military operation. The British broadcaster reports this on its website.
During the interview, Danilov also confirmed that some of Wagner’s mercenaries were withdrawing from the town of Bakhmut, but indicated that they were “regrouping in three other locations.” So a retreat “does not mean that they will stop fighting with us”. At the beginning of the stationing of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, Danilov appeared calm: “This is nothing new for us,” he said.
007 GB: “WAGNER MOVED TO OTHER REGIONS”
Wagner’s mercenaries have probably begun withdrawing from some of their positions around Bakhmut and are likely to be used for other offensive operations in the Donbass region. The British secret service writes about this in its latest daily report on the situation at the front, published by the Ministry of Defense in London.
“The troops of the Wagner group – it is said – have probably started withdrawing from some of their positions around the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk. On May 25, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that the withdrawal of his troops from Bakhmut had begun and the transfer of positions to the Russian Ministry of Defense would continue until June 1. Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine also confirmed the surrender of troops on the outskirts of the city.
“Since May 24, the so-called troops of the Donetsk People’s Republic have probably entered the city to start demining. In recent weeks, elements of the 31st Brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops have moved from the Swatove-Kreminna area to Go and reinforce Bakhmut’s flanks.
“By May 16, Ukrainian forces – he concludes – had captured 20 square kilometers on the outskirts of Bakhmut. It is likely that the rotation of Wagner’s forces would continue in stages to prevent a collapse in pockets around the city. Still.” Due to the differences between Prigozhin and the Russian Defense Ministry, Wagner’s forces are likely to be used for further offensive operations in Donbass.”