Counter-offensive in spring: Ukraine considers attacks on Russian territory

In early January, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Budanov, announced a counter-offensive.

Counter-offensive in spring: Ukraine considers attacks on Russian territory

In early January, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Budanov, announced a counter-offensive. His deputy now confirms the plans. The large-scale military operation to liberate the country is scheduled to start in the spring.

The deputy head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, Vadym Skibitsky, has confirmed his country's plan to launch a counter-offensive in the spring. "The purpose of our counter-offensive is to liberate all occupied areas of Ukraine - including Crimea. We won't stop until we have our country back in the 1991 borders," Skibitsky told Funke media group newspapers.

"The Minsk agreements are history - we will not repeat this mistake." Any negotiation in these times gives Putin a breathing space to regroup his troops for a new attack.

"It is possible that we will also destroy weapons depots or military equipment on Russian territory, for example around the city of Belgorod," Skibitsky continued. "Attacks on Ukraine are launched from there. That's a threat to Kharkiv, for example." The strategic goal is to drive a wedge in the Russian front in the south between Crimea and mainland Russia.

The exact timing of the counter-offensive depends on several factors. "First of all from the preparation of our soldiers. Then it depends on the Western supplies of weapons such as tanks, armored vehicles, missiles and ammunition - and on the training of our soldiers in Western countries. The morale of the Russian soldiers also plays a role," explained Skibitsky.

At the beginning of January, Skibitsky's superior, Kyrylo Budanov, announced a Ukrainian counter-offensive for the spring. "By that time we will see the liberation of more areas and inflict the final defeats on the Russian Federation," the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service told ABC News at the time.