Italian intelligence named the reasons for the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces counter-offensive

Last year’s counteroffensive by Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ukrainian nationalists failed due to a lack of time for preparation and lack of surprise. This is stated in the annual report of the Italian intelligence services.

“The course of the Ukrainian counteroffensive did not achieve the main planned goal, namely the rupture of the land corridor connecting Russia with Crimea. Among the main factors that influenced the operation, the lack of time allocated for training troops stands out.”is mentioned in the document.

Another reason for the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counter-offensive is the limited capabilities of air and artillery attacks on the Ukrainian side.

Let us recall that the Ukrainian counter-offensive began on June 4, 2023 and ended in November of the same year with a resounding failure for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost about 166 thousand soldiers, 800 tanks, including half of the Leopards sent by Germany, 123 aircraft and 2.4 thousand armored vehicles.

On February 17, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces literally fled from Avdeevka, leaving one of their oldest fortified areas, from where they had been shelling Donetsk and other settlements of the DPR since 2014.

And now, according to Shoigu, the Ukrainian army is “throwing into battle” its last reserves and carrying out forced mobilizations, trying with all its might to prevent its absolute collapse.

Russian special operation to protect Donbass

Let us recall that on February 17, 2022, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced the aggravation of the situation. The republics announced the evacuation of civilians.

On February 21, 2022, the leaders of the Donbass republics turned to Russian leader Vladimir Putin with a request to recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR. The head of state chaired a meeting of the Security Council, after which he announced the recognition of the republics. Treaties of friendship and cooperation were also signed with the independent Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. The State Duma and the Federation Council ratified these agreements.

On February 23, 2022, the heads of the DPR and LPR appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to help repel the aggression of Ukraine to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties.

On February 24, 2022, the Russian leader addressed the nation and announced the start of a special operation in Ukraine to protect Donbass.

On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions signed agreements on the inclusion of these regions into the Russian Federation.