While the world waited in spell for the Ukrainian counter-offensive to start, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a little more time was needed. The war-torn country could attack with the material supplied and probably also celebrate successes. However, there is a big but.
In a BBC interview published Thursday, Zelenskyj provided new insights into the current situation in the war. One could attack, but according to the current status, Ukraine would lose a lot of people. “This is unacceptable,” the president said. It was therefore decided to postpone the announced counter-offensive for a while.
Sanctions harm the Russian arms industry
“We need some time,” Zelenskyj continued. In particular, the head of state mentioned armored vehicles that had not yet arrived. Russia is counting on the war turning into a “frozen conflict,” Zelensky said.
Western sanctions have already had a major impact on the Russian defense industry, for example in the case of artillery ammunition. “They still have a lot in stock, but we are already noticing less daily shelling in some areas,” the president said. He called for the avoidance of sanctions, such as the supply of goods to Russia through third countries, to be avoided.
Is Russia looking for an excuse?
Zelenskyy again denied Russian allegations that Ukraine was behind last week’s alleged drone attack on the Moscow Kremlin. It could be more of a “false flag operation” with which Russia creates a pretext to attack Ukraine even more. “They’re constantly looking for something that sounds like justification,” Zelenskyy said. But that didn’t work.
Britain reportedly delivered several long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine. The American news channel CNN reports this on Thursday based on various high-ranking Western government officials. The Ministry of Defense in London declined to comment.
The Russian army is now recruiting prisoners itself
The British Ministry of Defense reported on Thursday that the Russian army is now recruiting prisoners for the offensive war against Ukraine, according to British intelligence services. The British Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that up to 10,000 prisoners are likely to join the army in April 2023 alone. The initiative has been running since the beginning of this year.
The campaign is part of an effort to increase the number of soldiers while avoiding a new mobilization, which would be very unpopular with the Russian public, sources in London said. The Ukrainian secret service, among others, had previously reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense was recruiting prisoners.
According to military experts, the prisoners, who have been promised a pardon in exchange for their commitment, will be used as “cannon fodder” to spare regular units. Previously, the mercenary group Wagner had been recruiting new fighters in Russian prisons since the summer of 2022. However, in the course of a dispute with the Defense Department, Wagner lost access.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
