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Ukrainian officials believe Russia is preparing a major offensive early next year. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov predicts that operations by Russian troops could begin as early as February, as happened at the beginning of the invasion.
In an interview with The keeperReznikov showed that there are evidence that the Kremlin is taking steps to shift to a broader offensive in Ukraine. It is assumed that operations will begin in February next year, when the mobilized Russians finish the training process.
Russia announced a partial mobilization in September – the first since World War II – and, Reznikov said, has already sent half of the 300,000 men called up to replenish Russian ranks after setbacks on the battlefield. The second half of the military should, in his opinion, arrive in Ukraine only in February, after more complex preparations.
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“Recruits have been preparing for at least three months. This means that they are trying to start the next offensive wave, probably in February.like last year. This is the plan [russos]”, he ruled. But will the Kremlin limit itself to calling up 300 thousand soldiers? The Kremlin says yes, but Reznikov does not believe the promise. He believes that the mobilization efforts will continue beyond what was announced, following the strategy of sending the largest number of “bodies” into battle in hope to overburden the smaller Ukrainian forces.
In his statements to a British newspaper, Reznikov foresaw the scenario that the Ukrainian authorities had warned about. Over the past few weeks, they have indicated that Russia is gathering men and weapons for a new offensive that could launch a major offensive from the Donbass or even Belarus. Russian forces want to fight back against Ukrainian forces and may even be planning a second attempt to retake the capital, Kyiv.
In an interview with EconomistThe commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, foresaw, like Reznikov, an offensive in early 2023.
“Russian mobilization worked. They are 100% ready.”, Zaluzhny warned. The general predicts that operations will begin in February, “at best in March, at worst – in January.”
In his speech to the European Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky predicted a period of great effort on the part of the country and its allies. “The next six months will be decisive in many aspects in the confrontation that Russia started with its aggression,” he stressed.
