The war in Ukraine continues and is gaining momentum. The head of the GUR Kyrylo Budanov declares that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are planning a "serious" counteroffensive in the spring. Learn more about why the fighting on the front line in March will be the "hottest"

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The Ukrainian military continues to attack the russian occupiers in the captured territories of our country. Every day, the Defense Forces advance in different directions. However, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov announced a large-scale offensive. Read more about what the country's top intelligence officer said below.

In an interview with the Western publication ABC, Budanov made a very intriguing statement that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will begin a "serious" offensive. According to him, "heated" battles should begin already in March of this year.

"This will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to Donbas. Our goal, and we will achieve it, is to return to the borders of 1991, which are recognized by all subjects of international law as Ukraine", - Budanov said.

In addition, the head of the GUR again promised that attacks on russian territory will go deeper and deeper, probably referring to incidents similar to those seen at the end of 2022 at russian strategic airfields. As is known, explosions occurred at the air bases of the occupiers, as a result of which the territory of the bases and equipment were damaged.

How and when can Ukrainian offensives begin?

According to forecasts of Ukrainian intelligence, a mass mobilization of citizens should begin in russia on January 5. For this, dictator putin is even ready to close borders for men. In view of these forecasts, an aggravation is expected at the front in the coming months. It is not yet clear how many the kremlin plans to call on the mobilized, but any figure can complicate the situation for the Armed Forces.

Despite such forecasts, the military command of Ukraine continues to bend its line and affirmatively declare that it is impossible to sit down at the negotiating table without returning the territories lost since 2014. Therefore, most likely, Ukrainian troops will continue to fight for every centimeter of land, which also indicates the continuation of offensive actions.

Large-scale offensives should not be expected in the near future. And the main reason for this is weather conditions. Currently, positive and wet weather persists in Ukraine, which turns fields, forests and other paths of attack into mud and swamps. This greatly affects the passability of heavy equipment of both sides. But when the ground freezes, it is likely that Ukrainian and russian troops will try to make an offensive attempt.

In what areas can the offensive of the Armed Forces begin?

Defense forces are capable of launching an attack in any of the directions, but the question is the strategic value of these offensives. Taking into account the forecasts of military experts, the following directions for Ukrainian offensives may be: 1. the Svatov-Kreminna line (Luhansk region); 2. hike to Melitopol (Zaporizhia region).

These two options, if successful, would cause enormous damage to the russian army, and here's why:

• the Svatov-Kreminna line is of strategic importance. It is these settlements that pave the way for a potential major offensive on the Luhansk region, as well as strikes on the supply of the russian army in Lysychansk and Severodonetsk - two relatively large cities that Ukrainian forces held for several months, but then withdrew in order to occupy more profitable positions and save the lives of personnel.

• a successful campaign on Melitopol will hit the russians with a double force, since this city is one of the main logistical hubs of the occupiers. Having occupied Melitopol, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will cut the enemy group in two and will be able to open the way for an offensive on Crimea. It should be noted that the city on the shores of the Sea of Azov is used by the russian army as a logistics point for supplying the russian group in the south. By leaving it without supplies, Ukrainian troops will be able to facilitate their advance to the Left Bank of the Kherson region.

The scenarios of Ukrainian offensives may be different, but the Armed Forces are significantly dependent on the supply of Western weapons. Such powerful attacks by the Ukrainian army will require heavy equipment - tanks, armored vehicles and artillery. Currently, the Ukrainian leadership continues negotiations with Western partners on these issues. Ukrainians, in turn, hope that the West will give a positive signal, and this will probably become a key moment in the war.

We continue to believe in our joint victory and the Armed Forces of Ukraine!