(MENAFN- AzerNews) The Ukrainian military on Sunday renewed its plea for
operational silence around a long-awaited counteroffensive against
Russia forces, the latest in a stream of messages by Kyiv as it
prepares for the assault, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya.
Anticipation has mounted around what is expected to be a broad
attack by Ukrainian forces to retake Russian-occupied territory in
the east and south.
But Ukrainian officials have repeatedly discouraged public
speculation over the operation, saying it could help the enemy.
Authorities in recent days have also cracked down on citizens
sharing images or footage of air defense systems shooting down
Russian missiles.
“Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the
start,” the ministry said in a video posted to official Telegram
channels, apparently referring to the counteroffensive.
The sleekly-produced footage featured masked and well-armed
front-line troops holding their fingers against their lips,
gesturing for silence amid the distant rumble of artillery and
gunfire.
It ended with images of soaring F-16 fighter jets - long coveted
by Kyiv as it seeks to boost its air defense against Russian
missiles and drones.
Kyiv's Western allies in recent months have provided weapons,
armor and ammunition for the counteroffensive, which military
experts have said could prove difficult against dug-in Russian
forces.
In an interview published on Saturday, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared for the operation but
avoided making any predictions.
“To be honest, it can go a variety of ways, completely
different,” he told the Wall Street Journal.“But we are going to
do it, and we are ready.”
Other senior officials, including Defense Minister Oleksii
Reznikov, have similarly sought to tamp down expectations.
In some cases, however, the military has also fed the
anticipation. Social media outreach by Kyiv has often been intended
to intimidate the Kremlin.
Last week, it posted a flashy video depicting troops preparing
for battle and reciting a rousing blessing, which was later aired
as a recruiting clip.
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