Airstrike on Kiev: Kuleba sees three main problems with counteroffensive

Air raid on Kyiv
Kuleba sees three main problems with counter-offensive

7/2/2023 5:52 am

Kiev cites several reasons why the Ukrainian counteroffensive is not progressing more quickly. When criticized, the foreign minister replies: “Come here and try to walk even ten steps on the battlefield without getting killed.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba sees Russian air sovereignty as one of the three main problems in his country’s counter-offensive. The area, which was heavily mined by the Russians, and the heavily fortified Russian defense lines were difficult to overcome, he said in an interview with the media outlets Bild, Welt and Politico, which belong to the Axel Springer publishing house. “And third, our armed forces suffer greatly from the lack of anti-air, anti-helicopter, and anti-aircraft weapons on the ground.”

With the help of combat helicopters and combat aircraft, the Russians managed to “hit our counter-offensive forces.” The Ukrainian soldiers sometimes have to crawl 200 or 300 meters through a minefield during the day to clear the area for the advancing troops. The Russian fortifications, reinforced with concrete, steel and other materials, are also difficult to destroy.

Most recently, Kiev had reacted angrily to criticism of the slow progress of the counteroffensive. However, it is also clear to the Ukrainian leadership that they must show results against the background of Western arms aid. Kuleba said the Western allies’ decision to supply modern Western fighter jets could have been made earlier. “If the decision about the planes had been made about eight months ago, we probably would have made it now.” As since the first day of the war, “we ask our partners to expedite deliveries”. But he has no doubt “that Western aircraft will fight in Ukrainian airspace.”

Faith in the success of the counter-offensive

Kuleba was also annoyed by criticism of the lack of progress in the counteroffensive. “We feel frustrated by those who are now saying, ‘Oh, this isn’t going well.’ He called out to the critics: “Come and try to walk even ten steps on the battlefield without being killed.” Despite all this, he was convinced of the victory over the Russian troops. “Every day I see the recent achievements of our forces, I see the dynamics of the battle. And I don’t see a single reason why our counter-offensive shouldn’t be successful.”

Meanwhile, according to Ukrainian sources, Kiev was attacked again during the night. The Air Force said it had successfully repelled the first Russian drone attack on the capital in 12 days. According to preliminary findings, the air defense hit all targets. Witnesses heard explosions resembling the sound of anti-aircraft systems hitting targets. So far there is no information about possible damage. Most recently, on the night of June 20, the country launched aerial attacks on several cities in Ukraine, including Kiev and Lviv, about 70 kilometers from the Polish border. According to the first reports, the air defense shot down 28 of 30 drones.