Zaluzhnyi on new counteroffensive: I can't say, otherwise it will be a show
Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Head of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, refused to comment on military plans, including the purportedly planned new counteroffensive in 2024.
The German media outlet Welt recently claimed that Zaluzhnyi is allegedly planning a new counteroffensive in 2024, and Ukraine is already mobilizing resources for this purpose.
"This is war, I cannot say what I plan or what we are supposed to do. Otherwise, it will be a show, not a war, the cost of which is human lives. This cannot be discussed in any way," replied Zaluzhnyi.
What Welt wrote about
Welt pointed out that much of the armored equipment promised to Ukraine by allies has not been used, and some has not even arrived. For example, Germany and its partners promised 200 Leopard 1 tanks, but only 30 have been received.
At the same time, requests to the U.S. for Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, F-16 and F-18 fighters, Abrams tanks, long-range missile systems, UAVs, and ammunition indicate Ukraine's ambitious plans, according to Welt journalists. German security expert and political advisor Nico Lange believes that Ukrainian forces plan to transition to mobile warfare, a strategy that was not realized during the summer counteroffensive.
The article also said that Zaluzhnyi agreed to the summer counteroffensive allegedly for political reasons, as he did not see realistic chances of success without air support. As a result, Ukrainian forces conducted assaults with small infantry groups rather than using armored vehicles. Welt suggests that this was a prudent move, allowing them to preserve personnel and buy time to receive weapon systems from the West.
"Ukraine is likely mobilizing resources for a new counteroffensive next year," Welt cites the opinion of expert Nico Lange.
Meanwhile, according to Welt, one possible direction for the counteroffensive could be a foothold in the Kherson region.
Previously, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksii Danilov acknowledged that hopes for a summer counteroffensive in 2023 did not come true. He said that people sometimes make mistakes, but that does not mean victory will not be on Ukraine's side in the end.
