Newsweek reported on Sunday that a leaked Pentagon document has set the commencement date for Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces on 30 April.
The document, which dates back to 28 February, outlines the delivery of equipment and a training schedule for nine brigades that can launch a spring counteroffensive with the assistance of the US and its allies. The documents indicate that Ukraine plans to internally recruit three more brigades.
Western countries are training and equipping the nine brigades, with six expected to be ready by 31 March and the final three to be ready by 30 April, according to the document.
During a recent trip to the US, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal told The Hill that the offensive might not start until the summer.
On Monday, the prime minister addressed reporters. He stated that his belief that Kiev’s plans would not be affected by the Pentagon leak. He expressed confidence that the counteroffensive would occur in the near future.
In April, news organisations became aware of a trove of classified US documents, which included intelligence reports and daily updates on the Ukraine conflict. Someone dumped the documents online at some point earlier this year. Last week, the FBI arrested US airman Jack Teixeira, the suspected leaker.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow had looked into the leaked documents, although Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has suggested that some of the files could be part of a “deception” campaign.
Ukraine counteroffensive
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press in an interview in Kyiv that Ukraine will launch its counteroffensive against Russian troops when it’s ready, adding that it’s only a matter of time before the country achieves the necessary level of military preparedness to do so.
He said Ukraine’s allies are helping the government to achieve the level of technical equipment necessary to launch the attack, delivering heavy armored vehicles and ammunition.
But he also expressed frustration that sometimes officials from allied countries “promise one thing and do a completely different one.” He didn’t elaborate.
“If we aren’t ready, then nobody will start unprepared,” he said.