Russia could launch a new major counteroffensive in Ukraine “in late May – early June.” This is the prediction of Ukrainian presidential advisor Andrei Yermak, reiterating Kiev's request to have new “air defense systems” as soon as possible. “We know that Putin is preparing a new mobilization and we expect that new operations for a Russian counteroffensive could begin at the end of May or beginning of June,” Yermak said in an interview with the American edition of “Politico”.
For this reason, he insisted, “we urgently need additional air defense systems because without these it is impossible to defend our cities”. And then Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor underlined that “the problem for us is time: I want to remind you that we are at a critical moment, it is very important that the package (of American aid, ed.) is approved this month”.
The reference is to the 60 billion dollar package currently pending in Congress in Washington. The Senate has given the green light to the new supply of weapons, but the House of Representatives has not yet started the process. In this regard, on Friday evening a telephone conversation took place between the Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, assisted by the Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin.
During the telephone conversation, Umerov explained, “we informed the Secretary of Defense in detail about the current situation and Russia's recent attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. I reiterated that Ukraine needs more air defense systems and missiles. We must together stop the enemy of the free world and do it here in Ukraine.”
Yermak's forecasts are in line with the scenarios outlined by analysts and experts, who hypothesize a push from Russia between the end of spring and the beginning of summer, as also hypothesized by NATO leaders.
Russia, the two options for the attack
Moscow could act along two lines: It could continue to push east or try to break through to the south. In the Donetsk oblast, in eastern Ukraine, Russia in the last few hours has claimed the conquest of the village of Vodyane, which is located just south-west of Avdiivka, a strategic city that was the scene of fierce fighting and fell into Russian hands in February.
Even in the south, however, the pressure remains high. At least four people died and another twenty were injured in a new Russian attack in the Zaporizhzhia region, as reported by the local authorities, underlining how the attack was purposely carried out in two waves: initially, the governor of Zaporizhzhia, Ivan Fedorov, two missiles were fired and then, after more than 40 minutes and when emergency and security personnel had already moved into the area, the Russian army launched another offensive.
Among the injured, four of whom are in serious condition, are two journalists who had gone to the area to cover the first Russian attack, according to Governor Fedorov, quoted by the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. “Russia hit Zaporizhzhia with rocket attacks within 40 minutes of each other, a horrific system apparently intended to kill first responders and journalists at the scene,” the US ambassador to Kiev, Bridget Brink, wrote in X . “Russia must be held accountable for these crimes against Ukrainian civilians
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