[1/2] A Ukrainian army helicopter takes off to perform a mission, amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, throughout army drills within the north of Ukraine, June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
KYIV, June 3 (Reuters) – Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned in an interview revealed on Saturday.
“We strongly consider that we are going to succeed,” Zelenskiy instructed the Wall Street Journal.
“I don’t understand how lengthy it should take. To be sincere, it could go quite a lot of methods, fully totally different. But we’re going to do it, and we’re ready.”
Kyiv hopes a counteroffensive to reclaim territory will change the dynamics of the conflict that has raged since Russia invaded its smaller neighbour 15 months in the past.
Zelenskiy mentioned final month Ukraine wanted to look forward to extra Western armoured automobiles arrived earlier than launching the counteroffensive. He has been on a diplomatic push to preserve Western assist, in search of extra army assist and weapons, which is essential for Ukraine to reach its plans.
Russia holds swaths of Ukrainian territory within the east, south and southeast.
A protracted spell of dry climate in some components of Ukraine has pushed anticipation that the counteroffensive may be imminent. Over the previous a number of weeks Ukraine has elevated it strikes on Russian ammunition depots and logistical routes.
On Saturday Ukraine’s army mentioned in a day by day report that Mariinka within the Donetsk area within the east was the main target of preventing. Ukrainian forces repelled all 14 Russian troops’ assaults there, the report mentioned.
Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by William Mallard
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