President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced in an interview that surfaced on Saturday, Ukraine’s readiness to initiate their long-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim the territories under Russian control.
Zelenskiy expressed confidence in the Wall Street Journal, stating, “We firmly hold the belief in our imminent success.”
He added, albeit uncertain of the timeline or the various possible outcomes, “To be frank, the trajectory can be wildly unpredictable. However, our determination is unwavering, and we are fully prepared.”
Kyiv is optimistic that a counteroffensive to recapture the lost territories will alter the course of the war that has been ongoing since Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbouring nation 15 months ago.
Zelenskiy stated the previous month that Ukraine must delay the counteroffensive until additional Western armoured vehicles are delivered. He has been actively seeking to retain Western support, advocating for more military assistance and weaponry, a vital element for Ukraine’s plans to succeed.
Russian control currently extends over significant portions of Ukraine’s territories in the east, south, and southeast.
An extended period of dry weather in certain regions of Ukraine has fueled speculations about an impending counteroffensive. Over recent weeks, Ukraine has amplified its attacks on Russian ammunition stores and logistical pathways.
On Saturday, according to a daily briefing, Ukraine’s military highlighted that the main skirmishes took place in Mariinka, a locality in the eastern Donetsk region. The report indicated that Ukrainian forces successfully thwarted all 14 attacks by Russian troops in that area.
