Last three days prove Russia is not ready for Ukrainian counteroffensive

CNN reported the information. 

"Ukraine's much-anticipated counteroffensive appears imminent — and the way each side is preparing speaks volumes about their readiness. Kyiv’s frontlines are abuzz with vehicle movement and artillery strikes, with regular explosions hitting vital Russian targets in occupied areas," the CNN says. 

The American TV channel also notes that Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that "preparations are coming to an end," and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that "the counteroffensive will happen," but refused to give an exact date for its start.

"It may have already started; it may be weeks away. We don’t know — and that fact is a strong measure of Ukraine’s success as this begins," CNN believes. 

The analysts also point out that after losing Kharkiv and Kherson, Moscow had at least seven months to prepare the next likely target of the attack - Zaporizhzhia.

"That has happened, with vast trench defense networks that can be seen from space. That recognition of their enormity is not necessarily a compliment in 2023. They are big, yes, but they are also something anyone can peruse on Google. That’s not great in an era of precise rockets and speedy armored advances," CNN emphasized. 

The article also emphasized that the last 72 hours have shown Russia's lack of readiness for a counteroffensive by Ukraine. 

"First, the apparent firing of the deputy defense minister in charge of logistics, Mikhail Mizintsev. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not spelled out his dismissal, merely issuing a decree that Aleksey Kuzmenkov now has his job. The "Butcher of Mariupol," as Mizintsev is known, surely had enough failings over Russia’s disastrous war to merit his firing. But this fails to satisfy the question: Why now?" CNN states. 

According to the authors of the article, the removal of key Russian officials the moment before its army faces a counteroffensive by Ukraine is indicative of disorder.

Also noteworthy is a new round of criticism from the founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who in an interview revealed the essence of the problems faced by his mercenaries. According to him, Wagner men have so little ammunition that they may have to withdraw from Bakhmut.

"Russia’s eroding ammunition supplies were long known, but to suggest imminent failure just ahead of the counteroffensive smacks of a major bid to shift blame," CNN concluded. 

• On April 29, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western partners to make a decision to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, but at the same time stressed that the lack of modern aircraft would not affect the launch of the counteroffensive.