Zelensky had to be told about the start of the counterattack, because so far only information colored by Russia has been received, Ilmari Käihkö estimates

Zelensky had to be told about the start of the

The political stakes are getting higher as both sides have acknowledged the start of a counteroffensive.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive is underway. President Volodymyr Zelenskyi finally confirmed the matter publicly on Saturday.

However, Zelenskyi did not say at what stage the counterattack is or reveal details about it.

Docent of Military Sciences Ilmari Käihkö considers Zelenskyi to have practically said what everyone already knew.

According to Käihkö, it is significant that Ukraine admitted the matter officially for the first time.

Zelenskyi could no longer hide the information, because in recent days Russia has been exceptionally open about the offensive operations in Ukraine, Käihkö estimates.

It is problematic for Ukraine that all the information coming from the operation is colored by Russia.

– Ukraine is in a difficult situation. You shouldn’t feed high expectations any more, but if you keep quiet, the other party will say things. The thirst for information is huge at the moment.

Zelenskyi’s comment was the answer of the president to Vladimir Putinwho claimed on Friday that Russia had repelled a major invasion of Ukraine.

Interpretations of the counterattack are premature

On Friday, there was prominent news about Ukraine’s losses on the southern front. One or two Leopard tanks and several Bradley tanks were destroyed from Ukraine. It led to far too premature assessments of the failure of the invasion of Ukraine.

On the southern front, Russia’s defense positions are the strongest, Käihkö reminds. In addition, the open terrain makes progress difficult. However, the south also offers the biggest gains for Ukraine if it manages to advance there.

– Ukraine has clearly taken big risks here in order to get big profits.

It will only be weeks or months from now that it will be possible to assess how the attack in Ukraine has actually progressed.

According to Käihkö, the political stakes have hardened now that both sides have admitted that a counterattack is underway.

Since Russia has already said that it has repelled a counterattack, a breakthrough in Ukraine would be a bad failure for it. On the other hand, the pressure on Ukraine to achieve gains is growing even more.

For Ukraine, the biggest risk is that vital support from Western countries will decrease, Käihkö points out. That’s why Ukraine has to conquer territories and inflict losses on Russia.

The information that Ukraine has advanced in the Bahmut area is significant from this point of view.

– From the point of view of Ukraine, the most important thing is the right direction, summarizes Käihkö.

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