In the latest report by the American Institute for War Studies (ISW), it has been noted that several representatives of Ukraine, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have recently signaled the readiness of Ukrainian forces to commence counteroffensive operations against Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed this readiness in an interview published on Saturday in the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal.” Zelensky admitted that although Ukraine “would like to obtain certain things,” they cannot “wait for months” to initiate operations on the frontlines.
Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malar stated on Saturday that “military plans prefer silence,” and according to the ISW, this statement shows that “Ukrainian officials have started implementing a stricter regime of information silence” regarding army actions preceding the upcoming counteroffensive.
Another sign of readiness for the counteroffensive is the statement by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, who announced the formation of nine assault brigades.
According to the ISW assessment, in Bachmut, the units of the Russian mercenary group Wagner have been largely replaced by the regular army. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, announced on June 2nd that 99% of his units had left Bachmut.
The British Ministry of Defense estimates that Russian airborne forces, including elements of the 76th and 106th divisions, as well as two additional separate brigades, are playing an increasingly important role in Bachmut.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russians launched unsuccessful offensive actions near the town of Iwaniwske, located 6 km west of Bachmut. Meanwhile, a Russian war blogger reported that Ukrainian forces are fortifying defensive positions on the southern and northern flanks of Bachmut, expecting the resumption of the Russian assault on June 5th. The Russians had announced the completion of the withdrawal process of the Wagner Group from Bachmut on that day.
Currently, the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian front remains tense. While Ukrainian forces signal their readiness for a counteroffensive, the decision to initiate it remains in the hands of top commanders. The world eagerly awaits the development of events in the coming days as they will be crucial for the further course of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.