Ukraine plans new 'counter-offensive'

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

In an interview with a German daily newspaper, Nico Lange, a former German defense official and now a senior member of the Munich Security Conference, stated that despite growing pessimism in the West regarding Ukraine's progress on the battlefield, Kyiv remains quite optimistic about military equipment, with several 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, look at a map. (Photo: AP)

The expert suggested: "Ukraine may be gathering resources for a new counteroffensive next year," adding that Kyiv could launch a new offensive in the Kherson region and attempt to cross the Dnieper River by force.

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

Meanwhile, Bild cited sources claiming that Ukraine is outlining a “new war plan.” According to the magazine, Kyiv has abandoned its plan to push Russia out of the territories it claims and is instead focusing on inflicting maximum damage on Moscow.

"Our goal is to have the most positive kill ratio possible," an unnamed officer told Bild, adding that if Kyiv achieves a 10:1 loss ratio in their favor, they will advance, while a 1:1 ratio would mean retreat.

Another source quoted said that "Kyiv's position doesn't matter, what's important is that most Ukrainians survived."

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in early June but failed to capture any significant bases. Months after the offensive, even top Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, began to acknowledge that the effort had not achieved its objectives.

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated the casualty ratio at 8 to 1 in favor of Ukraine, and earlier this month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that Kyiv had suffered more than 125,000 casualties since the beginning of summer.

Phuong Anh (Source: RT)

Source: https://vtc.vn/ukraine-len-ke-hoach-phan-cong-moi-ar841345.html