Has the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine been postponed? New terms

The spring offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was presented as an opportunity for Ukraine to return 1/5 of its territory seized during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, it appears to be being delayed, and The Washington Post is speculating about the reasons and the new timing.

The most obvious reasons are the weather and the lack of ammunition due to slow supplies. The fear of a deadlock was also reinforced by the leak of secret Pentagon documents about the alleged plans of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Apparently, the spring counteroffensive was postponed to the summer, writes edition. The Ukrainian government confirms this and names new possible dates for the attack. Rumors that have been circulating in society for a long time about the upcoming counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stimulate strong pressure on the start of the operation. The command and authorities say that it is necessary to prepare as well as possible for a counterattack. The Washington Post article says:

“The expected spring offensive was seen as the only chance for Ukraine this year to retake the territory held by Russian troops, which is about a fifth of the country.”

The publication writes that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine fail to recapture a significant part of the territory, many Ukrainians fear that they will be forced to negotiate with Russia at a disadvantageous position. At the same time, despite Western hardware expectations and ammunition shortages, the Ukrainian military is testing Russian defenses for vulnerabilities, using commercial drones to monitor the enemy, pinpoint weak spots and plan strikes to destroy fortifications.

Most of all, in the upcoming counterattack, Ukrainian fighters are worried about mines. They are at all Russian defense positions, the military told reporters. A Ukrainian lieutenant colonel commanding a tank battalion in the Zaporizhia region specified that there are mines on both sides of the front: “We planted a lot of mines, and the Russian side too.”

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal confirms that the spring counter-offensive was postponed to the summer and notes that Ukraine’s allies and partners do not put pressure on Kiev on the issue of the offensive, but the strongest pressure is felt from within the country, quotes his American edition The Hill:

“All our friends and partners are well aware that in order to go on the counteroffensive, you need to be 100% ready for it, if not more.”

When asked how the preparations for a counteroffensive could be affected by the leak of secret Pentagon documents, the head of government replied that Ukraine would liberate its territory anyway. The day before, Shmyhal visited Canada and then flew to the United States. The publication believes that such a tour of the Ukrainian prime minister is part of Kiev’s military strategy: while military preparations are underway, the prime minister is instructed to rally partner countries to provide economic support that is as important for Ukraine’s survival as its military defense.

Lloyd Austin, the head of the Pentagon, sees no problems at all for the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine because of the “drain” of documents from his department. In his opinion, the Ukrainian leadership remains focused on fulfilling its task. Austin is convinced that Ukraine now has many opportunities to succeed in potential attacks. The Ukrainian side has an “excellent plan” to start active operations, the head of the Pentagon said. At the same time, he stressed that the details of the counteroffensive are known only to President Volodymyr Zelensky and other representatives of the Ukrainian leadership. The head of the Pentagon added that in Kyiv they feel that they are “in a fairly good position,” quotes Austin The Wall Street Journal:

“And we will focus on continuing to provide security assistance so they can be successful when they decide to go offensive.”

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