Preliminary operations have begun for a counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces in Ukraine, As stated by a Ukrainian presidential adviser. The process of de-occupation is ongoing and includes destroying supply lines and blowing up depots behind the lines. The intensity is increasing, but it will take a long period of time. The commander of Ukraine’s armed forces raised expectations that a major operation could be imminent. The counteroffensive could come tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week. The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, which include far-right extremists in their ranks, were not acting on Kyiv’s orders.
As stated by a top Ukrainian presidential adviser, preliminary operations have begun to pave the way for a counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces. Mykhailo Podolyak stated that “It’s an ongoing process of de-occupation, and certain processes are already happening, like destroying supply lines or blowing up depots behind the lines.” He added that the intensity is increasing, but it will take quite a long period of time.
The commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, Gen Valeriy Zaluzhny, raised expectations that a major operation could be imminent by declaring on social media: “The time has come to take back what’s ours.” Zaluzhny’s declaration on the Telegram messaging app was accompanied by a cinematic video showing heavily armed Ukrainian soldiers preparing for battle to a soundtrack of ominous music and a narrator reciting a prayer calling for strength to “annihilate” Ukraine’s enemies.
The much-anticipated counteroffensive could come “tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week,” As stated by the secretary of the national security and defence council, Oleksiy Danilov. Danilov said Kyiv had “no right to make a mistake” on the decision because it was a historic opportunity that “we cannot lose.”
The incursion by Ukrainian-backed Russian rebel groups into Belgorod has driven anticipation of the counteroffensive, possibly intended to draw troops and equipment away from the frontline in Ukraine. Podolyak denied the Russian groups – the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion – which include far-right extremists in their ranks, were acting on Kyiv’s orders. He said their contracts as part of Ukraine’s foreign legion had ended and they therefore had the status of “citizens of the Russian Federation temporarily on the territory of Ukraine.”
However, he said Kyiv had not acted to stop the incursion as “we deeply sympathise with whatever protest movements are in Russia.” As an authoritarian regime exists in Russia, Ukraine sees the opportunity to take back what is theirs.
It is a complicated process that will take time, but Ukraine is determined to de-occupy its land and take back what is rightfully theirs. The counteroffensive is a historic opportunity that cannot be lost, and Kyiv is making sure to take the necessary steps to ensure its success.
Photo Credit: i.guim.co.uk
