Ukraine is preparing for a new counteroffensive and military operations on the front, but notes that defense is a top priority. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who in an interview with Fox News noted that defense faces a great challenge in the war with Russia. He emphasized that the lives of military personnel are the most important priority, since the loss of soldiers can lead to the loss of everything.
“Defense is our main task,” the president said. “We will continue our successful activities in the Black Sea. We are preparing some surprises for Russia, which is very important. The south and the defense of the east, where more than 200,000 Russian soldiers are located, are also extremely important.”
Zelensky also said that Ukraine needs Patriot air defense systems, long-range weapons and other means. He called for focusing on the present moment, not remembering the past.
Regarding the success of the counteroffensive in 2023, Zelensky noted that success depends on many factors and it is necessary to consider the situation in accordance with the current context.
Recall that last summer, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive in the east and south of the country, which led to the liberation of more than a dozen settlements in the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions. However, now Russian forces are intensifying their attacks on the front, in particular, capturing Avdiivka after prolonged fighting and increasing activity in the Kupyansk area.
Zelensky stressed that for Russia, the capture of Avdiivka is its greatest achievement in the 9 months of the war. Head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense Kirill Budanov believes that Russia does not have enough forces to capture the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
