Preparations for the Ukrainian counter-offensive “are coming to an end”, assures kyiv, while Russia has been the target of several attacks in recent days.
When will kyiv’s counter-offensive be launched? More than a year after the start of the war in Ukraine and as Russia prepares to celebrate May 9, which marks the victory over Nazi Germany, the Ukrainian army seems ready for its spring offensive.
In recent days, preparations “are coming to an end”, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov. For its part, NATO said that 98% of the Western weapons promised have been delivered, including 1,550 armored vehicles, 230 tanks and a lot of ammunition.
“The Ukrainians have formed 12 brigades of 4,000 men each, or nearly 50,000 men. They have prepared units to launch this offensive”, explains Ulysse Gosset, international political columnist for BFMTV.
But beware. “This offensive is a one-shot rifle,” General Jérôme Pellistrandi told BFMTV.
“In a broad sense, we are ready”
“The Ukrainians must imperatively succeed and achieve a military victory on the ground. Why? Because European countries cannot provide more,” he explains.
“The equipment has been promised, prepared and partially delivered. In a broad sense, we are ready,” he said during a press conference. “When God wills it, (when there is) the weather and the decision of the commanders, we will do it”, explained Oleksiï Reznikov at the end of April.
While waiting for the start of this great offensive, Russia and the annexed Crimea were the target of a series of attacks which kyiv did not, however, claim.
In four days, explosive devices derailed two freight trains and damaged a high-voltage line in the Leningrad region (north-west), a drone attack caused a huge fire in an oil depot in annexed Crimea and a Ukrainian strike left four dead in the Bryansk region.
