Ukraine plans new 'counterattack'

Ukraine may be gathering forces to launch a new counteroffensive in 2024 after its first offensive, which began this summer, failed to break through Russian defenses, German newspaper Welt reported.

In an interview with the German daily, Nico Lange, a former German defense official and now a senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference, said that despite growing pessimism in the West about Ukraine's progress on the battlefield, Kiev remains quite optimistic about military equipment, with more arms deliveries expected from the West.

Ukrainian President Zelensky, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Colonel. Alexander Syrsky and Roman Mashovets, deputy chief of staff of the President's Office, look at a map. (Photo: AP)

“Ukraine may be gathering resources for a new counteroffensive next year,” the expert suggested, adding that Kiev could launch a new offensive in the Kherson region and attempt to cross the Dniepr River by force.

Meanwhile, the report notes that Ukraine “still has big plans” — ambitions evidenced by Kiev’s aid wish list submitted to the United States, which includes attack helicopters, advanced fighter jets, long-range missile systems, Abrams tanks, and other equipment.

At the same time, Bild cited sources as saying that Ukraine was drawing up a “new war plan.” According to the magazine, Kiev had abandoned plans to push Russia out of the territories it claims as its own and was instead focusing on inflicting maximum damage on Moscow.

“Our goal is to have as positive a kill ratio as possible,” an unnamed officer told Bild, adding that if Kiev achieved a 10:1 loss ratio in its favor, it would advance, while a 1:1 ratio would mean retreat.

Another source was quoted as saying that "Kiev's position does not matter, the important thing is that most Ukrainians survive".

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in early June but failed to gain any significant ground. Months after the offensive, even top Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, began to admit that the effort had fallen short of its goals.

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated the loss ratio at 8 to 1 in favor of the rebels, and earlier this month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu claimed that Kiev had suffered more than 125,000 casualties since the start of the summer.

Phuong Anh (Source: RT)

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