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Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thought to have taken one of his "biggest gambles" yet by replacing his top commander in a dramatic military shake-up. Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, one of Ukraine's most experienced commanders who had led the country's ground forces since 2019, was on Thursday appointed the new head of Ukraine's armed forces amid broader military leadership changes. It represents the most significant change to Ukraine's military leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country nearly two years ago. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy said he had taken the decision "to renew the leadership" of Ukraine's armed forces and thanked Zaluzhnyi for his two years of service. Urgent change," Zelenskyy said.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Land Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, Andriy Yermak, Kharkiv Region Oleg Sinegubov, Metin, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Valeriy, Zelenskyy, Zaluzhnyi, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Oksana Parafeniuk, Zelenskky, Zaluzhny, Peter Dickinson, Genya Savilov, Dickinson Organizations: Ukrainian Land Forces, Presidential, Military Administration, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Armed Forces, Staff of, Armed Forces of, Washington Post, Russia, Economist, Atlantic Council, Afp Locations: Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Kharkiv Region, Zelenskyy, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv, Zelenskky, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk
He added that he had appointed Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, to lead the army. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that he had replaced his top general, a dramatic shake-up of the country's military at a crucial moment in its war against Russia . A popular figure who came to embody Ukraine's fighting spirit, Zaluzhnyi is widely respected both at home and abroad. Zelenskyy appeared to have been caught off guard by Zaluzhnyi's comments and denied that the war was, in fact, at a stalemate. A career soldier, Zaluzhnyi, 50, and Zelenskyy have emerged as the top leaders in wartime Ukraine.
Persons: Zaluzhnyi, he'd, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskyy, Zaluzhny, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Kyiv's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii, quagmire, Zaluzhnyi's Organizations: Armed Forces, Russia, Ukraine's, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Dnipro, United States, Russia, West
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a broad overhaul of Ukraine’s military and civilian leadership was needed to reboot the country’s war effort, suggesting that a major shake-up of his government was imminent. Mr. Zelensky’s comments, in a broadcast aired on Sunday night, indicated that his plans went beyond replacing the top military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny. However, the decision was put on hold, creating a sense of limbo at the top of the government at a precarious moment in the war. “A reset, a new beginning is necessary,” Mr. Zelensky told the Italian media outlet Rai News in the Sunday night broadcast. “I have something serious in mind, which is not about a single person but about the direction of the country’s leadership.”
Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky’s, Valeriy, Zelensky, Mr, Organizations: Rai
KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Ukrainian troops on the southeastern front and handed out medals, his office said on Sunday amid intense speculation that his popular army chief could soon be sacked. They face a difficult and critical mission to repel the enemy and defend Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in a statement after visiting Zaporizhzhia region. The presidential office said in the statement that Zelenskiy visited the Ukrainian military's forward positions near the village of Robotyne, which is located almost on the battle line. The president's visit to the battle lines came at a time of uncertainty over the fate of army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. His removal could hurt morale among Ukrainian troops battling to hold positions along more than 620 miles (1,000 kms) of frontlines against a vast Russian force armed with large munitions stockpiles.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, Pavel Polityuk, David Goodman, Emelia Organizations: Russian Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Robotyne, Russian
Ukraine's Zelenskiy Is Considering Replacing Zaluzhnyi, Others
  + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +3 min
(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, said he was considering a "reset" to replace several senior officials. Speculation has gripped Ukraine for weeks over suggestions that the president was about to dismiss the highly popular commander, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. But Zelenskiy said any changes went beyond replacing a single person to harness efforts to oust Russian troops. To win the war, Zelenskiy said, "We must all push in the same direction, we cannot be discouraged, we must have the right and positive energy, negativity must be left at home. On two occasions in the past week, Ukrainian media issued a torrent of reports that Zaluzhnyi's dismissal was imminent.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Valeriy, Zelenskiy, Zelenskyi, Zaluzhnyi, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Kyrylo Budanov, Gianluca Semeraro, Ron Popeski, Diane Craft, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Reuters, RAI, Russian, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Italian, Ukrainian, Ukraine's, Kyiv
By Max Hunder and Steve HollandDONETSK REGION, UKRAINE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government has informed the White House that it plans to fire the country's top military commander overseeing the war against Russian occupation forces, two knowledgeable sources said on Friday. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesA second knowledgeable source said that the White House did not express a position one way or the other on the plan to replace Zaluzhnyi. "I would emphasize that the White House response was that we did not support or object to their sovereign decision," said the source, who request anonymity in order to discuss the issue. "The White House expressed that it is up to Ukraine to make its own sovereign decisions about its personnel," the source continued. The Washington Post was first to report that Ukraine had informed the White House of the plan to fire Zaluzhnyi.
Persons: Max Hunder, Steve Holland, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zaluzhnyi, Jonathan Landay, Leslie Adler, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Ukrainian, Washington Post Locations: Steve Holland DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE, WASHINGTON, Ukraine, .
Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi attends a ceremony marking the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 28, 2023. Ukraine's army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi is expected be dismissed from his post by the end of the week, news outlet CNN reported Wednesday, citing sources. Zaluzhnyi reportedly refused a request from Zelenskyy to step down earlier this week and remains in post for now. Defense analysts point out that it's standard practice for military commanders to be replaced during times of war, if new strategy and vision are deemed necessary. Ukraine's forces are seen to be making little headway in reclaiming Russian-occupied territory, instead having adopted a more defensive stance to retain the positions held.
Persons: Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskyy, Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukrainian, CNN, Ukraine's Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia
Kyiv CNN —Aid to Ukraine is frozen in US Congress, and Kyiv could be dealing with a Trump presidency more sympathetic to Moscow. “I don’t worry much about it,” Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence directorate, told CNN in an exclusive interview in Kyiv. His agency has claimed notable successes, including raids on the Russian-occupied Crimea and attacks on Russian airfields, inflicting embarrassing wounds on the Kremlin. Ukrainian social media is bursting with footage from frontline troops showing drones spying on, attacking and even capturing Russian troops, although Moscow uses many of the same tactics. But as Ukraine’s long-held hopes for F-16 jets come to fruition – with Kyiv’s pilots already training on the aircraft – Budanov echoed Ukraine’s newest request.
Persons: Ukraine’s, isn’t, Kyrylo Budanov, Trump, ” Budanov, , ” Trump, Putin, Budanov, Zelensky, Valeriy Zaluzhny, Moscow, Organizations: CNN —, Trump, CNN, Ukraine, Republican Party, Russian Federation, Kremlin, Artillery, US Air Force’s Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, Russian, Crimea, Russia, Ukrainian, North Korea
(Reuters) - Ukraine's government has submitted an amended draft bill that would tighten the rules on army mobilisation for debate in parliament. Ukraine began mobilising civilians after declaring martial law in February 2022 when Russia invaded. MOBILISATION AGEThe amended bill proposes lowering the age people can be mobilised for combat duty to 25 from 27. Receiving consular services for things like passports would require citizens to present their military registration documents. The Defence Ministry introduced this change to make military registration fair and equal for all.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskiy, Yuliia Dysa, Tom Balmforth Organizations: Reuters, Army, Convicts, Defence Ministry Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly preparing to replace army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi in what would be the biggest shake-up of the country's military command since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi during an event dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. They said that Ukraine's president may not oust Zaluzhnyi for some time, however. Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Monday appeared to reject speculation about the army chief's position, saying in Google-translated remarks via Telegram, "Dear journalists, we immediately answer everyone: No, this is not true." Ukraine's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Valeriy, Ukraine Valerii, Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskyy's, Zelenskyy Organizations: Armed Forces, Financial Times, Ukraine's Defense, Google, Ukraine's Defense Ministry Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Zelensyy, Russia
As Ukraine fights against a fierce Russian offensive and its leaders wait to see whether the West will approve more than $100 million in much-needed assistance, the government in Kyiv is dealing with a festering distraction: tumult in its top ranks centered on the fate of the top military commander. Speculation raged on Monday in political and military circles, the news media and online that President Volodymyr Zelensky had fired the commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny, with rumors becoming so widespread that the president’s office was forced to issue a public denial. “There was no dismissal,” the president’s spokesman, Serhiy Nikiforov, told the Ukrainian media. “I cannot say anything else,” he said. When asked whether the president intended to dismiss the general, Mr. Nikiforov replied: “I repeat to you once again — there is no subject of conversation.”The curt response only fueled further speculation that the president’s office had planned to fire General Zaluzhny but backed down after a furious backlash, and on Tuesday the capital was still consumed with whether the general would be staying or going.
Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Valeriy, Serhiy Nikiforov, , Nikiforov, , curt, Zaluzhny Organizations: Ukraine Locations: Russian, Kyiv, Ukrainian
Opinion: A turning point in Ukraine
  + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Opinion Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +9 min
Last year, Ukraine passed legislation shifting its Christmas celebrations in line with many Western dates – a step to further distance itself from traditions commonly observed in Russia. As 2023 drew to a close, Russia launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion. The intensity and frequency of the attacks — on the back of reports that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is stalling and that western backers of Ukraine are holding back billions in funding — marks a major turning point in the war. While it’s impossible to put an exact number on Ukrainian war losses, anyone who visits the military portion of the Lychakiv Cemetary in Lviv can see that its expanded to almost maximum capacity. Ukraine scored a big win last week when the EU approved sanctions against Russia’s largest diamond producer, Alrosa, and its CEO.
Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, Odesa, Odesa CNN —, , Oleksandr Gimanov, Olha, Radkevych, Anatolii Stepanov, Volodymyr Zelensky, who’ve, Armed Forces Valeriy, who’s, Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Le Cosmopolite, , won’t, Putin, Kira Rudik, Organizations: Atlantic Council, Organization for Security, Cooperation, CNN, Odesa CNN, OSCE, Getty, Armed Forces, expats, , European Union, Ukraine, Russia’s, EU, Holos Party Locations: Europe, Ukrainian, Odesa, Ukraine, Russia, AFP, Israel, United States, Russian, North Korea, Iran, Lviv, Kyiv, Belgium
CNN —Responses to the recent statements by the commander in chief of the Ukrainian military, Valery Zaluzhny, warning of a stalemate war between Ukraine and Russia, have been varied and revealing. On the other side, skeptics of Western support for Ukraine gloatingly cited the interview as evidence that Ukraine should have capitulated at some imagined earlier opportunity. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyi meets with the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg on September 28, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is not Ukraine that is desperate to continue war despite plentiful options to stop the bloodshed — it is Russia. And would there still be ‘fatigue’ in Western capitals if Ukraine had retaken more territories during the summer counteroffensive?
Persons: Jade McGlynn, , Read, Valery Zaluzhny, Jade McGlynn Jade McGlynn, Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Igor Zhovka, Ukraine gloatingly, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, NATO Jens Stoltenberg, Yan Dobronosov, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Anatolii Stepanov, Washington, , Putin, worldviews, Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny, Gleb Garanich Organizations: Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Western, Ukraine, NATO, Ukrainian Air Defence, Kremlin, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Reuters, EU, North Korea — Locations: Putin’s Russia, Ukraine, Russia, frontlines, Kyiv, AFP, North America, West Germany, West, Iran, North Korea, freefall, Europe, Eastern Europe, Korea
Two killed in Russian missile attack on Kyiv - officials
  + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
The enemy launched a massive, combined attack using drones and missiles," Serhiy Popko, the head of the city's military administration said on Telegram. [1/4]Rescuers work at a site of buildings damaged in the night by Russian drone and missiles strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine August 30, 2023. Russia then launched missiles from Tu-95 strategic aircrafts. General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said that Ukrainian air defences shot down all 28 Russian missiles and 15 out of 16 drones launched overnight. read moreKyiv authorities said several buildings were damaged by debris while officials in Kyiv region reported that 6 private houses were damaged by missile fragments and several people were injured.
Persons: Vitali Klitschko, Serhiy Popko, Popko, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Pavel Polityuk, Jacqueline Wong, Michael Perry Organizations: Press, State Emergency Service of, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv region, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Handout, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian
Ukrainian forces raise the national flag in the settlement of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, in this screen grab taken from a social media video released August 23, 2023. Telegram Valerii Zaluzhnyi/via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces have raised the national flag in the settlement of Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Kyiv's military said on Wednesday, though it was not clear whether the entire community had been liberated from Russian forces. Soldiers of the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade set up the flag of Ukraine in the village of Robotyne, in one of the hottest destinations – Melitopol," the brigade said in a post on its Telegram channel. In a video published by General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, the Ukrainian flag is seen on a roof of a badly damaged building surrounded by burnt trees. "A blue and yellow flag signed by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was raised on the school destroyed by the Russian invaders on the National Flag Day!"
Persons: Valerii, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Mark Heinrich, David Evans, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Mechanised Brigade, Armed Forces, 47th Brigade, Reuters, Russia's, Thomson Locations: Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Melitopol
Ukraine’s grinding counteroffensive has struggled to break through entrenched Russian defenses in large part because it has too many troops, including some of its best combat units, in the wrong places, according to several American officials. U.S. officials have advised the Ukrainians to revise their tactics. Three months in, there are signs that the Ukrainians may be taking the advice to heart as casualties mount. In a video teleconference this month, top Western military officials urged Ukraine’s most senior military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, to focus on one main front. According to two officials briefed on the call, General Zaluzhnyi agreed.
Persons: Ukraine’s, Valeriy, Zaluzhnyi Organizations: U.S Locations: Russia, Crimean
Elon Musk denied Ukraine's request for Starlink access near Crimea last year, per The New York Times. Some Ukrainian officials and world leaders worry about relying on Musk's technology, the report said. According to the Times, Ukraine asked Musk for Starlink access near Crimea, but Musk refused, two people familiar with the discussions said. But Ukrainian officials are also concerned about relying too much on Starlink and have reached out to other satellite internet providers. And Ukrainian officials said in September that Musk had blocked Starlink internet access in Crimea, saying he was concerned about escalating the conflict.
Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Mykhailo Fedorov, Starlink, Fedorov, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Mark, Zaluzhnyi Organizations: New York Times, Times, Service, Privacy, The Times, EU, SpaceX, Ukraine's Armed Forces, US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine Locations: Crimea, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Russian
Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars The tech billionaire has become the dominant power in satellite internet technology. Today, more than 4,500 Starlink satellites are in the skies, accounting for more than 50 percent of all active satellites. 53% of active satellites are Starlink.” The Starlink satellites are highlighted and are all operating in low-Earth orbit. How Starlink customers connect to the internet Starlink satellites orbit at much lower altitudes than traditional satellite internet services. “Everywhere on earth will have high bandwidth, low latency internet,” Mr. Musk predicted on the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020.
Persons: Elon Musk’s, Mark, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Elon Musk, Zaluzhnyi, General Zaluzhnyi, Musk, Musk’s, , Starlink’s, ” Mykhailo Fedorov, Mr, Biden, ” Dmitri Alperovitch, Sir Martin Sweeting, Sweeting, Mike Blake, Patrick Seitzer, Rafael Schmall, Joe Rogan, Jeff Bezos, Starlink, Russia —, Fedorov, , Clodagh Kilcoyne, Nancy Pelosi, Colin H, Kahl, Lynsey Addario, messaged Mr, Lloyd Austin, Gregory C, Allen, we’ve, Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelensky, Jason Hsu, Hsu, “ Elon, Michael McCaul of, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Audrey Tang, Mariana Suarez, Thierry Breton, SpaceX, Chérif El, Amazon Organizations: Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine’s Armed Forces, SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter, Mr, U.S . Defense Department, NASA, Senior Pentagon, The Defense Department, Starlink, European Union, Silverado, Accelerator, Surrey Satellite Technology, Reuters, Airbus, Earth, Getty, Satellite, University of Michigan, National Science Foundation, Rivals, Amazon, Origin, Viasat, Pentagon, CNN, The New York Times, U.S, Defense Department, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Elon, Harvard Kennedy School, Republican, House Foreign Affairs, OneWeb, Agence France, European, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, United States, Iran, Turkey, Japan, Starlink, Crimea, Russian, Starlinks, Europe, Taiwan, China, Beijing, British, Colorado, Cape Canaveral, Fla, , California, Florida, Latin America, Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ukrainian, Russia, Kreminna, Aspen, Colo, Kherson's, Kherson, Dnipro, Shanghai, Taipei, Michael McCaul of Texas, del, Uruguay, European Union
Maliar said the advances brought the territory recaptured since the counteroffensive began in early June to more than 192 square km in the southern sector. In the east, she said, the main focus of fighting was around the small city of Bakhmut captured by Russian forces in May after months of fierce combat. Kyiv's forces continued to advance on Bakhmut's southern flanks but to the north Russian forces were "clinging to every centimetre and meter," she said. Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, still holds swathes of territory in southern and eastern Ukraine. Russia has not confirmed that Ukraine has made territorial gains, and said last week that its forces had advanced in the northeast.
Persons: Sofiia, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Vladimir Putin, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: Armed Forces of, REUTERS, Ukrainian, Russian, Deputy, Reuters, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Donetsk region, KYIV, Russian, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Azov, Klishchiivka, Russia, Moscow, Odesa
Even as Germany and other European countries have learned of Ukrainian involvement in the pipeline attack, they have nevertheless increased their military aid. American officials insisted on Tuesday there has been no determination about who within the Ukrainian government may have planned or authorized the attack. If it is eventually pinned on senior officials, European attitudes about support for Ukraine could change. The Post reported that the European intelligence report said the Ukrainian operatives involved in the plot to destroy the pipelines reported to Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s senior military officer. Officials say the United States is unlikely to place any public blame for the destruction of the pipelines on Ukraine until after those investigations are done.
Persons: Valeriy, Zaluzhnyi’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, John F, Kirby, Mr, Aishvarya Kavi Organizations: National Security Council, Washington Post Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United States, Germany, U.S, Europe
Summary Ukraine says Russia has stepped up air attacksOne person wounded in central district - mayorAll inbound missiles shot down - city officialsKYIV, May 29 (Reuters) - Explosions rang out across Kyiv on Monday as Russia launched its 16th air attack on the Ukrainian capital this month, hours after unleashing dozens of missiles and drones overnight. All the Russian missiles were shot down, but one person in the central Podil district was taken to hospital, authorities said. Ukraine shot down 11 cruise and ballistic missiles fired in the second of Monday's attacks on Kyiv, said Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Firefighters work at a site of a private building damaged during a massive Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine May 29, 2023. Russia has increased the frequency of air attacks as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive.
Separately, senior Ukrainian officials indicated their forces were ready to launch a long-promised counteroffensive to recapture territory taken by Russia since the start of the war. In a statement on Telegram, Ukraine Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Russian forces were continuing to attack but that overall offensive activity had decreased. Kyiv is expected to soon launch a highly anticipated counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory. Ukraine's top general, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, posted a sleekly produced video on Saturday showing Ukrainian troops swearing an oath and preparing for battle. Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and David Ljunggren; Editing by Conor Humphries and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Ukraine’s top military commander signaled on Saturday morning that the nation’s forces were ready to launch their long-anticipated counteroffensive following months of preparations, including recently stepped-up attacks on logistical targets as well as feints and disinformation intended to keep Russian forces on edge. “It’s time to get back what’s ours,” Ukraine’s supreme military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, wrote in a statement. But General Zaluzhnyi offered no indication of where and when Ukrainian forces might try to break Russia’s hold on occupied territory. Other senior Ukrainian officials also suggested that the counteroffensive was imminent. Oleksiy Danilov, the head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, told the BBC in an interview released on Saturday that Kyiv’s forces were “ready” and that a large-scale assault could come “tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week.”
Russia digs in as Ukraine prepares to attack
  + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +9 min
And in the case of Polohy, Russia has constructed two distinct defensive lines, one to the north and one to the south. Musiyenko estimated that Ukraine would have a force of between 100,000-110,000 for an attack, including eight assault brigades with a total of 40,000 troops. Russia has not said how many troops it has in Ukraine, or within its borders ready to deploy. A leaked U.S. intelligence document dated Feb. 28 seen by Reuters said the West had committed 200 tanks to Ukraine. Army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said in December he needed 300 to defeat Russia, along with other vehicles and artillery.
The Washington Post reports Ukrainian officials had plans for "mass strikes" on Russian cities on the first anniversary's of the war. Ukraine's military intelligence chief directed an officer to hit "with everything" available, but the plan wasn't carried out. Officials in Kyiv have disputed the Post report based on leaked documents, calling it "strange media" and "sensation." Ukraine is also suspected to be behind a number of explosive sea drone attacks on Russian installations. Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea August 9, 2022.
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