Not only international media and observers state that Ukraine has now really started with the long-awaited counter-offensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin also states. “The Ukrainian counter-offensive has begun, but without success,” Putin said Friday at a meeting of the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union in Sochi. The fighting is said to have been very intense in recent days, but according to the Russian president, his troops are holding out.
Putin said fighting had been “particularly intense” over the past three days. “The Ukrainians still have offensive capabilities, but so far they have not achieved their goals on any front,” he also said. “We owe this to the courage and solid organization of the Russian troops.” “Russia may lack modern weapons at the moment, but that industry is developing rapidly,” he said.
Center of gravity in Zaporizhia
Reports had been circulating for days that Ukrainian soldiers were gathering in strategic places. The center of gravity of the Ukrainian counter-offensive against the Russians seems to be in the Zaporizhia region, south of the city of the same name. The first Leopard tanks have also appeared at the front. However, it did not take long before the Russians managed to destroy a first copy.
The Ukrainian armed forces are revealing as little as possible about the offensive. Kiev has indicated from the outset that it would not comment on the start of efforts to liberate Moscow-held areas, and so would not confirm that it has begun.
Putin: “Considerable Losses”
According to Putin, this is “definitely” the case, and as proof he argues that the Ukrainians are deploying strategic military reserves. The Ukrainians are said to have suffered “considerable losses” in the last days. Putin therefore thinks that Ukraine still has the ability to attack.
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