07/02/2023 02:54 (act. 07/02/2023 03:00)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ©APA/AFP/POOL
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Russian air superiority and minefields are the biggest problems for Ukrainian troops in their counter-offensive. the ground to evacuate the advancing troops, Kuleba said in an interview in Kiev with “Bild”, “Welt” and “Politico”.
Russian fortifications, reinforced with concrete, steel and other materials, are difficult to destroy. In addition, the armed forces are suffering “from a lack of anti-aircraft, anti-helicopter and anti-aircraft weapons on the ground,” Kuleba said. With the use of combat helicopters and combat aircraft, the Russians were able to “hit our counter-offensive forces”.
More recently, Kiev has reacted angrily to criticism of the counter-offensive’s slow progress. However, it is also clear to the Ukrainian leadership that they must show results in the context of Western military aid.
Kuleba said the Western Allies’ decision to supply modern Western fighters could have been taken earlier. “If the decision on the planes had been made about eight months ago, we probably would have made it now.” As from the first day of the war, “we ask our partners to expedite deliveries”. But he has no doubts “that Western aircraft will fight in Ukrainian airspace.”
Kuleba was also unnerved by criticism of the lack of progress in the counter-offensive. “We are frustrated by those who now say, ‘Oh, this is not going well.’ He shouted to critics: “Come and try to walk ten steps across the battlefield without being killed.” Despite all this, he was convinced of victory over Russian troops. “Every day I look at our forces’ recent achievements, I see the dynamics of the battle. And I don’t see a single reason why our counter-offensive should not succeed.”
In any case, the Ukrainian air defense was deployed on Sunday morning to repel a Russian air strike on Kiev, as announced by the Ukrainian air force via the Telegram short message service. Witnesses heard explosions similar to the sound of anti-aircraft systems hitting targets. Initially there was no information about possible damage. An air strike warning was issued overnight for Kiev, its surroundings and several regions in central and eastern Ukraine.