New Russian offensive may attack Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv oblasts, says NSDC head
Oleksiy Danilov (Photo:REUTERS/Anna Voitenko)
A probable new Russian offensive may attack the northeast of Kharkiv Oblast and the south of Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said in an interview with the Reuters news agency on Feb. 7.
According to him, Kyiv is not ruling out a new Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, where the Armed Forces drove the enemy out during a counteroffensive in the late summer. They are also studying in detail the defense in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, he said. At the same time, Danilov considers a repeat invasion from Belarus "doubtful" due to Russia's lack of forces there.
"Attempts at an offensive in either the Kharkiv or Zaporizhzhya direction will of course be made," Danilov said.
“How successful they are will be will depend on us.”
He reiterated Kyiv's previous predictions: Russia wants to completely seize Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, and Russian forces will try to achieve "demonstrable results" by the anniversary of their full-scale invasion on Feb. 24.
Earlier, in an interview with NV, Danilov said that the government was preparing "for any development of events" and understands what is happening from the Russian side. According to him, Russia is now realizing that it cannot achieve its goals and is beginning to "beg" for negotiations through intermediaries.
On Feb. 5, the Financial Times, citing sources in the Armed Forces, reported that a large-scale offensive by the Russian invaders would begin within the next 10 days – before Ukraine receives a new supply of Western weapons. It stated that Kyiv had "obtained very solid intelligence of Russia’s intent" to launch it.
This new offensive would see the Russians concentrate their efforts in specific areas, warned Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
According to Bloomberg, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin expects that a new offensive by the Russian army in February-March 2023 will allow the occupiers to seize the initiative from Ukraine. At the same time, Putin is determined to wage war against Ukraine for many years, the publication wrote.
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