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Oleksiy Danilov, a Ukrainian senior security official, told BBC that the long-anticipated counteroffensive is ready for commencement. 

While he did not specify a date, he said the counteroffensive, whose aim is to retake "occupied territories", might be launched any day. "Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or in a week."

During the interview, he revealed that the Wagner private military forces were retreating from Bakhmut, but they were "regrouping to another three locations" and "it doesn't mean that they will stop fighting with us."

The much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive, anticipated to start in a few weeks, won't include fighter jets, but WashPo said the unusual rapidity with which the White House made the choice after over a year of hesitation.

With regard to the nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Danilov said that it was expected and they were "absolutely calm" about it.

Read more: Wagner chief asks Moscow to hand Bakhmut to Kadyrov's Akhmat battalion

Earlier today, the Russian Embassy in the United States said Russia and Belarus had the right to employ the necessary means to safeguard their security, including military-nuclear means, especially in light of the circumstances of the so-called "hybrid war" Washington has sparked.

The embassy's announcement comes in response to President Joe Biden's comments to reporters when he expressed on Friday his concerns over Russia's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying he had an "extremely negative" reaction to Russia's action. 

"We have noted increasingly frequent comments in recent days coming from the White House and State Department concerning the Russia-Belarus military-nuclear cooperation," the Russian embassy noted.

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