ARTICLE
Russia will panic when Ukraine’s counteroffensive begins – Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO
Sunday, 7 May 2023, 18:21
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/7/7401067/
Volodymyr Havrylov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence, believes that “Russia will be in panic” when Ukraine launches its counteroffensive.
SOURCE: Volodymyr Havrylov in an interview with The Independent
QUOTE FROM HAVRYLOV: “We will launch our counteroffensive – when and where it doesn’t matter now. [And when that happens] Russia will be in panic; you will see a lot of panic. They still don’t understand that [their] propaganda is demonstrating a false picture of what is actually happening on the ground. This war will be won on the ground, not on the TV screens, not on the internet [...]
I would not be surprised if on some day, maybe this month or next month, we will see something which contributes to the immediate collapse of Russian strategy or its military, [its] economy.”
DETAILS: Havrylov said that holding the eastern city of Bakhmut was a key element of Ukraine’s preparations for the counteroffensive. Maintaining a foothold in the “fortress” of Bakhmut has allowed Ukraine to expose the fact that the Russian war machine is “not [of] the quality we saw a year ago when Russia launched the full-scale invasion in Ukraine and rolled in tanks in the first wave.”
“Bakhmut demonstrated that, not only to us in Ukraine but also to the enemy, that there is no military solution for Russia in this war; even worse, there is a military disaster awaiting Russia at the end of this war, and we will see it soon,” the deputy defence minister said.
He added that after months of attritional conflict, the situation on the ground might see rapid developments.
“I can only say that we are doing everything possible to end the war as quickly as possible…I would really like 2023 to be a year of victory,” Havrylov said.
PREVIOUSLY: In November 2022, Havrylov said that by the end of December 2022 Ukrainian forces might enter Crimea, and predicted that the war with Russia would be over by summer 2023.
VIDEO
Ukrainian War Map Update: Ukrainian Army Has Made History!
The Pioneer
319K subscribers
5-7-2023 4:00 p.m. EST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVA8nU1ckxM
When we talk about the factors that determine the fate of a war, we always talk about soldiers, firepower and diplomacy. However, it can also be stated that there are other factors that shape the course of the war. The conditions of nature can also affect the course of a war in different ways.
We are almost at the 500th day of the biggest war of the 21st century, the war between Russia and Ukraine. The second spring of the war is almost over. And the second spring is going on at a level that could bring the war to an end. The offensive that the Ukrainian army has been preparing for a long time will begin before the end of this spring. According to many sources, the Ukrainian army is just waiting for the seasonal conditions to mature.
Russia, on the other hand, is following the developments regarding Ukraine’s upcoming offensive with concern. This concern grows as the process progresses. Because what is behind this uncertainty is unpredictable. Such situations make authorities even more vulnerable to making mistakes. Russia is making mistake after mistake under these circumstances.
Many events, which we will discuss in our map analysis in a moment, reveal the complex situation Russia is in. The Ukrainian army is making the best use of this situation and its superiority is increasing day by day. Strategic Russian targets are being hit by operations organized by the Ukrainian army. In the days when such events are on the rise, shocking events are also taking place within the borders of Russia. So which regions have the Ukrainian army hit in recent days and achieved great success? What is the latest situation on the front line? Let’s take a look at the latest developments together with maps.
Before we get to our report, we would like to make a small reminder. The Pioneer continues to follow the battlefield. Important developments on the ground, operations, changes on the map and diplomatic maneuvers are reported and presented to your attention. This work requires a lot of effort. The Pioneer team needs your support to continue its work. You can support The Pioneer team by using the “Super Thanks” button to stay informed about the war between Russia and Ukraine.
First, let’s look at the map from a broad perspective. Based on the course of the war and especially the statements of Ukrainian leader Zelenski, we have stated in many of our reports that the Crimean peninsula is Ukraine’s ultimate goal. The Ukrainian leader has stated many times that the Ukrainian army will continue to fight until it liberates Crimea, which was occupied in 2014.
Crimea is very important for both countries. Russia’s largest naval force in the Black Sea, the Black Sea Fleet, is anchored in Crimean ports. The point to be noted here is Sevastopol. As you can see on the map, Sevastopol is located in the southernmost part of the peninsula and has a very important strategic position. Most of the Russian Navy’s units stationed in the Black Sea are in the port of Sevastopol. Therefore, there are many facilities established here to meet the needs of these troops. Or rather there were. Because the Ukrainian army achieved a great success by hitting one of these important facilities.