Zelensky to the BBC: We still need some time for the counter-offensive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the BBC that his army still needs time to prepare a much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. “With (what we have) we can move on and be successful. But we would lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable. So we have to wait. We still need some time,” said Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian army has trained new forces and stockpiled ammunition and equipment supplied by Western countries, which analysts say will be key to retaking areas occupied by Russian forces. The timing of when Kiev will start its land reclamation efforts in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (east) and Kherson and Zaporizhia (south) remains open.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov said in late April that “preparations are coming to an end”. “The equipment was promised, prepared and partially delivered. In the broadest sense, we’re ready,” he said during a press conference. “If God wills, (if there is the time and the commanders’ decision), we will do it.” However, he added that the powerful Abrams tanks promised by the United States “will not have time to participate in this counteroffensive “, their delivery to Ukraine is not expected until the end of 2023. On Wednesday, a senior Ukrainian military official said that Kiev forces counterattacked on Bakhmut, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, forcing Russian troops to retreat in places.
Ukrainian graduates started in Bakhmut yesterday (Portal)