Kiev blames West for Moscow's success in repelling counteroffensive

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net & Agengies
23 Jun 2023 22:17

An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has fortified its defense line while Ukraine was persuading Western partners to supply it with weapons.

Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mikhail Podolyak speaks during an interview with the AP in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2023. (AP)

Russia built a defense line while Ukraine was convincing Western partners to provide the necessary weapons, the senior advisor of the Ukrainian President, Mikhail Podolyak said on Friday.

"The time lost in convincing our partners to provide the necessary weapons is reflected in the specific Russian fortifications built during this period, the deeply dug defense line, and the system of minefields. Breaking the Russian front today requires a reasonable and balanced approach," Podolyak wrote in a Twitter post.

Real war is not a Hollywood blockbuster. The counteroffensive is not a new season of a Netflix show. There is no need to expect action and buy popcorn. Offensive operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue in a number of areas. Formation operations are underway to set up…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) June 23, 2023

According to the Ukrainian President's advisor, "Real war is not a Hollywood blockbuster. The counteroffensive is not a new season of a Netflix show. There is no need to expect action and buy popcorn."

"Offensive operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue in a number of areas. Formation operations are underway to set up the battlefield," he added.

Yesterday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal warned that his country's counteroffensive against Russia will take time.

Despite the fact that Ukraine's counteroffensive is moving more slowly than anticipated, Ukraine continues to reject the option of freezing the battle, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"No matter how far we advance in our counter-offensive, we will not agree to a frozen conflict because that is war, that is a prospectless development for Ukraine," Zelensky told the BBC on Wednesday while admitting that the counteroffensive's progress has been "slower than desired."

"Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect results now. It's not," he said.

Days earlier, Zelensky said that "The weather is not favorable - the rains make our task more difficult," in his daily evening address about the counteroffensive launched by his forces against the Russian forces.

Ten days before, The Washington Post said that Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of the counteroffensive in Ukraine are paying "a heavy price."