Military expert called the purpose of Syrsky's words about the counterattack of the AFU new help from the West

The statement by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Oleksandr Syrskyy, about plans for a new counter-offensive is an attempt to get additional assistance to Kiev from the West. Military expert Oleksiy Leonkov expressed this assessment in a conversation with Izvestiya on November 26.

A similar statement by Syrskyy became known earlier in the day. Strana.ua reported that at a recent meeting with bloggers, he promised that the AFU would "not only stand in defense, but also counterattack."

"This is aimed primarily at foreign sponsors that Ukraine is capable of fighting: 'Give only weapons and money, and we will continue to resist.'" In the hope that Western sponsors will find more strength and means to ensure Ukraine's existence as a state," Leonkov explained.

In his opinion, Ukrainian military circles are currently hoping that after the West authorizes long-range missile strikes on Russian territory, they will get approval for other actions as well. This explains the Kiev regime's desire to embolden its sponsors, the expert added.

At the same time, Leonkov drew attention to the AFU's lack of a sufficient number of qualified human resources, as well as the necessary equipment in many brigades. In addition, he pointed to the destruction of elite units of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region. Given this state of affairs, Syrskyy's statement does not correspond to the realities and is populism, the analyst believes.

At the same time, he expressed the opinion that the Ukrainian militants will still try to implement the announced plans to prove that they are still capable of performing at least some combat tasks. However, without air support and heavy equipment, such operations will fail, Leonkov concluded.

Earlier in the day, Verkhovna Rada deputy Maryana Bezuglaya said that the statehood of Ukraine is threatened with collapse due to the numerous problems of the AFU. He associated such a forecast with the facts of corruption at all levels.

On the eve it was reported that the grouping of troops "South" of the Armed forces of Russia continues the offensive in the direction of the city of Kurakhovo of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and prepares a large cauldron for the Ukrainian army. At the same time, Syrskyy reported to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term expired on May 20) about the difficult situation for the AFU in the Kurakhovo direction.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.

More topical video and details about the situation in Donbass, see on Izvestia TV channel.