Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Financial Times that the liberation of several villages from Russian occupation in recent weeks was “not the main event” in the planned counteroffensive, and the attack’s main event is still to come.
“When it happens, you will all see it . . . Everyone will see everything,” he said, disregarding media reports about the slow advance of the Ukrainian troops against heavily fortified Russian positions.
Reznikov confirmed the assessment of various military analysts that the Ukrainian main troop reserves, including newly created brigades equipped with modern Western tanks and armored vehicles, have not yet been deployed in the ongoing operation.
Read also:
- Ukraine’s defense minister warns against unrealistic expectations for Ukraine’s counteroffensive
- Frontline report: Ukrainians reinforce assault group on eastern bank of occupied Kherson Oblast
- Frontline report: Ukraine takes tactical heights in Rivnopil with minimal engagement
- Zelenskyy visits front lines, claims Ukrainian advance in several directions
- Ukraine starts offensive in Bakhmut area in several directions at once – Defense Ministry
- Ukraine achieves “partial successes” in south, holds back Russian offensive in east – military
- Ukraine “likely successfully setting conditions” for future main offensive effort – ISW
- Too early to assess counteroffensive results, Ukraine committed only three of 12 new brigades – analysts