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Ukraine's spring counteroffensive, without Western fighter jets

2023-05-01 16:05:34, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukraine's spring counteroffensive, without Western fighter jets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia fired 18 missiles at the Ukrainian capital on Monday morning. Ukraine says it intercepted 15 of them, while no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, a widely expected counteroffensive by Ukraine in the spring will take place without US warplanes. Ukraine's president said the wait to train with the advanced aircraft could signal a deadline for Russian forces on the ground.

Ukrainian forces are training somewhere in the southeastern region of Zaporizhia. Ukraine is expected to launch a counteroffensive in the spring, after Russia's winter offensive resulted in small advances despite bloody fighting.

For months, Kiev has sought advanced weapons from the West, most recently F-16 fighter jets, or similar aircraft. To date, this has not happened. Ukraine's president said there is no time left and that the counteroffensive will happen with or without advanced fighter jets.

"To be honest, they would help us a lot. But we also understand that we cannot delay the counterattack, so we will start before we get the F-16s, or other models. We will start and move forward with the plans, while at the same time, I think the acquisition of Western weapons is very important."

President Zelensky spoke just a day after emergency workers and residents rushed to evacuate survivors of rocket attacks in a nine-story apartment building. Ukraine's air force says it shot down 21 of the 23 missiles fired by the Russian jet, but those that were not destroyed killed at least 23 people.

In a video released by the press office, President Zelensky referred to Russia as a terrorist state, specifically saying, "It's not just those who give orders... You are all terrorists and murderers and you must be put to death."

Meanwhile, in the Donetsk region, a Russian drone strike hit another civilian target.

A 31-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter were killed in the eastern city of Dnipro.

In Crimea, a massive fire at an oil plant, a possible sign of things to come, with or without Western warplanes. The Russian-appointed official in the region blamed the fire on a drone strike and reported no casualties. According to the Associated Press agency, the official did not clarify the origin of the drone, but Ukrainian drones have increasingly targeted Crimea in recent weeks.

If and when Ukraine launches its counteroffensive, it will face fortified Russian positions in the coming months, filled with land mines, tanks and troops./ VOA