Ukraine's army finalizes preparations for a counteroffensive, but there will be no Abrams this time - Reznikov

This was stated by Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov during a press conference.

"Preparations (for the counteroffensive - ed.) are coming to an end. In a global sense, we are ready in a high percentage mode, then it's up to the General Staff and the command. As soon as it is God's will, the weather and the commanders' decision, we will do it," said the head of the defence sector.

The Defense Minister emphasised that Ukrainian defenders still have to master the new military equipment provided by the allies.

"In addition to weapons and equipment, our military must also master it. We have received very modern systems, especially in terms of "armoured fist". I will remind you that in addition to the tank coalition, which includes primarily Leopard 2 and Challenger, Leopard 1 will arrive a little later," the head of the military department added.

"Abrams tanks will not have time to take part in this counteroffensive, but our crews have already left for training. In addition, we have a large number of armoured vehicles of various types - armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. We will have Bradley, Marder, Stryker and CV 90 from Sweden. We are finishing preparatory courses there," the minister said.

Reznikov noted that Ukraine already has modern armoured vehicles, including Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks, as well as armoured vehicles of various types. The promised Leopard 1 and Abrams tanks will come later.

"We can clearly state that we have 155 mm heavy artillery, HIMARS, armoured vehicles of almost all major known types and brands, a tank coalition has been created, and Patriots are on combat duty, although at one time this caused hysteria among the orcs when they shouted that Patriots in Poland were already crossing the red lines by the West," the head of the Ministry summarized.

• On April 26, the spokeswoman for the South Command, Natalia Humeniuk, said that the counteroffensive was already "taking small steps."
• Also, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had received 98% of the weapons needed for the counteroffensive.
• As a reminder, the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive would begin after May 2, when the rains stop.  
• Earlier, Kuleba criticized the EU's inability to implement the decision to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. He noted that this delay is measured in human lives.
• Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and EU diplomat Josep Borrell discussed the supply of weapons and ammunition to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive.