"I
don’t know how long it will take. To be honest, it can go a
variety of ways, completely different. But we are going to do
it, and we are ready."
Kyiv hopes a counteroffensive to reclaim territory will change
the dynamics of the war that has raged since Russia invaded its
smaller neighbour 15 months ago.
Zelenskiy said last month Ukraine needed to wait for more
Western armoured vehicles arrived before launching the
counteroffensive. He has been on a diplomatic push to maintain
Western support, seeking more military aid and weapons, which is
key for Ukraine to succeed in its plans.
Russia holds swaths of Ukrainian territory in the east, south
and southeast.
A long spell of dry weather in some parts of Ukraine has driven
anticipation that the counteroffensive might be imminent. Over
the past several weeks Ukraine has increased it strikes on
Russian ammunition depots and logistical routes.
On Saturday Ukraine's military said in a daily report that
Mariinka in the Donetsk region in the east was the focus of
fighting. Ukrainian forces repelled all 14 Russian troops'
attacks there, the report said.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by William Mallard)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|