Ukraine plans new counteroffensive in 2024 - Welt

Germany's Welt notes that much of the armored equipment that Ukraine was promised by its Western partners has not yet been used. Some of the equipment has not reached Ukraine at all, including Leopard 1 tanks. 

According to German security expert and political advisor Nico Lange, Ukraine is relying on attrition: "They are no longer trying to hold positions like in Bakhmut. Instead, they want to slow down the Russian troops and let them bleed out."

The publication claims that Ukraine has big plans. This is evidenced by the list of weapons that the Ukrainian leadership handed over to the United States. Earlier, the list was published by Reuters, and included Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, as well as F-16 and F-18 fighters, long-range missile systems, Abrams tanks, numerous drones and ammunition.

In addition, the media notes that Valeriy Zaluzhnyi agreed to the summer counteroffensive "purely for political reasons". He did not see any chance of success without sufficient air support, so he replaced the offensive with assaults by small infantry groups.

The starting point for new offensive actions, according to the expert, could be the Kherson region, since the Ukrainian forces are now holding a foothold on the left bank of the Dnipro River, continuing to expand it. From there to the “weak spot of the Russians,” Crimea, is only 60 kilometers.

"Ukraine is probably gathering resources for a new counteroffensive next year," said Lange. "With the necessary fighter jets, attack helicopters and drones, Ukraine could adequately support the advance of its troops, especially since there are almost no Russian fortifications in the region. It would be a counteroffensive, as Zaluzhnyi probably had in mind from the beginning," Welt believes.