Ukraine could mount massive counterattack, Russia says war will last long time

Thursday marks 400 days since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The country's troops could mount a massive counterattack against Russian forces following deliveries of battle tanks from European countries.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told an Estonian media outlet on Monday that Leopard 2 tanks Kyiv recently received from partners will be used in a counteroffensive potentially in the next two months, depending on weather conditions.

The US think tank Institute for the Study of War said in its assessment on Wednesday that the arrival of equipment likely creates conditions for Ukraine to launch a counteroffensive. But it added that a delay is likely before the country can do so.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said war, in a broader context, will last for a long time.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace revealed Washington's latest assessment that more than 220,000 Russian troops and mercenaries have been killed or injured in Ukraine.

His ministry's daily analysis on Thursday said Russian media reporting suggests Moscow is preparing to start a major military recruitment campaign "with the aim of signing up an additional 400,000 troops."

The ministry said Russian authorities have likely selected a "supposedly 'volunteer model' to minimize domestic dissent" but that it is "highly unlikely that the campaign will attract 400,000 genuine volunteers."

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230330_30/