Ukraine plans its “holy revenge” against Russia as the Kremlin regroups in Bakhmut

The blow dealt to the Ukrainian defense by the capture of Bakhmut did not shake the faith placed in the Western Allies. USA announced, during the G7 summit, the provision of F-16 fighters to the Ukrainian troops, which is added to the Leopard 2 tanks obtained in the first quarter. Ukraine has used this stage of rearmament to wear down its opponent in an area that, as recognized by the head of the wagner groupYevgeny Prigozhin, has only symbolic importance, not strategic.

Since their last victory, Russian forces have temporarily eased their attacks on the city of Bakhmut for regroup and strengthen their capacities, according to a senior kyiv official. In addition, from Ukraine they have indicated that they are ready to launch a long counteroffensive to recover the territory taken by Russia since the beginning of the war.

[Ucrania insinúa el inicio de la contraofensiva de forma inminente: “Es el momento de recuperar lo nuestro”]

Despite the fact that a historic attack by Ukraine was expected, one of Zelensky’s top advisers, Mykhailo Podolyak, made it very clear last Thursday that “it is not a ‘one-time event’ that will begin at a specific time on a specific day, with a solemn cutting of a red ribbon.” Even so, he assures that the counteroffensive is already “happening” – at least the preliminary operations. Podolyak defines it as “a continuous process of unemployment” and ensures that “it will take quite a long period of time”.

After Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s publication yesterday, it is evident that the intensity and tension is increasing, something that Podolyak already announced.

[Ucrania ataca Berdyansk, Krasnodar, Donetsk y Rostov para desarmar a Rusia de cara a la ofensiva]

Despite the threats, the uncertainty looms over the offensive, which could come “tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or within a week”, according to the secretary of the National Defense and Security Council, Oleksiy Danilovbefore the BBC. This delay, he assures, is due to its improvement, since kyiv “has no right to make a mistake. It is a historic opportunity They can’t lose.”

In the fight against the Kremlin groups of Russian fighters have also joined opponents to the government of Vladimir putin (Russian Freedom Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps), who have attacked the Ukrainian city of Belgorod -on the border with Russia-. In their claim, they stated that they want their children to “grow up in peace and be free,” something that is necessary to “put an end to the Kremlin dictatorship.”

Faced with rumors of being supported by kyiv, Podolyak has spoken about it and has denied such a link. Zelensky’s adviser has assured that kyiv has not stopped the incursion because “deeply sympathizes with whatever protest movement there is in Russia“; in the face of an authoritarian regime “how can we prevent its own citizens from doing something about it?”, it has been asked.

Slow progress, but effective

The success found by Ukraine in its offensives in Sumy, Kharkov or Kherson lies in the work prior to the attack. In all of them, the absence of major battlesbut the task of disarming the Russian intelligence systems and the destruction of their sources of supply prevail, thus forcing their withdrawal.

That is, the Ukrainian advance lies in the russian escape. During these last months the strategy had to focus on targets at close range. However, with the Western crews, kyiv can already aim for a long-distance counteroffensive. Without transferring Russian territory, since it would violate the conditions established by the partners.

Ukraine attacked last week Berdyansk, Krasnodar, Donetsk and Rostovalthough it is unknown if they are part of the ‘start of the counteroffensive’ or if they are only part of the preparatory phase.