BILD Reveals What Putin's Major Spring Offensive Could Be Like
3- 30.04.2024, 8:19
- 8,152
The target could be Kharkiv.
Two senior Ukrainian intelligence officials said they expect a major new Russian offensive to begin in late May. In anticipation of such an operation, according to the interlocutors, Russia is launching missile strikes on Kharkiv and other strategically important cities.
A source in the Ukrainian army told BILD that he fears an attack on Kharkiv involving between 20,000 and 40,000 troops.
‘Then we will have to decide whether we want to defend the north or the east. It is impossible to do both,’ he said.
In addition, a Ukrainian military officer said on condition of anonymity that he also believes an attack on Kharkiv is the most likely scenario for the Russian offensive.
However, the US-based Institute for the Study of War noted in a recent analysis that ‘well-equipped Ukrainian forces could probably prevent a Russian offensive.’
‘After two years, the Russians have figured out how to use their forces for offensive operations effectively. Countless bombs are now often dropped on the front. Not as before - only in a few insignificant hangars, but in every building we are holding,’ the Ukrainian officer commented on the situation.
According to him, the AFU ‘cannot do anything’ without ammunition and missiles for air defence systems. At the same time, the Ukrainian military are now erecting kilometres of anti-tank barriers - not only in the south of the country, but also along the borders with Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions.