Ukrainian general assesses chance of Defense Forces' counteroffensive

He shared his opinion on Espreso TV.

"It's been repeatedly mentioned that Putin has given a clear order to break through the eastern Ukrainian front. The main goal is to fully occupy Donetsk and Luhansk regions and make partial advances into Zaporizhzhia region. The operations in Kharkiv and Sumy regions were conducted specifically to divert the reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for this purpose," Malomuzh said.

The general added that Ukraine might launch a counteroffensive in the fall under favorable conditions.

"Today, the Russian forces are moving units from the Kharkiv region to the east to fulfill Putin's order to break through the front in eastern Ukraine. Their attacks on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Kurakhove are part of their plan to fully occupy the Donetsk region. However, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are completely destroying these plans of occupying army. With recent supplies of ammunition and weapons, the Ukrainian Armed Forces can defend themselves and launch counterattacks. I expect that by fall, we'll be ready to conduct tactical counteroffensives and, if conditions permit, even strategic ones," he explained.

• Occupying Russian forces are ramping up their offensive operations in the Donetsk region while scaling back in northern Kharkiv. This may signal the start of their summer offensive.