Ukraine is gearing up for its much-anticipated spring offensive, fueled by an unlimited arsenal of tanks and other weapons supplied by its Western allies, together with newly organized brigades.
“The frontline is the primary priority. We’re also actively preparing recent brigades and units that can show up at the front.” said President Volodymyr Zelensky in the video address.
“Everyone in Ukraine must understand that the principal task of the state is the de-occupation of our territories, the return of our lands and our people from Russian captivity.”
The Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, an alliance of 54 nations that helps Kiev fight the Russian invasion, has delivered greater than 230 tanks and 1,550 armored vehicles “in only a number of short months,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. said Friday.
Austin noted that Ukraine had received a set of kit and ammunition to support greater than nine recent armored brigades.
The US also accelerated the timetable for sending M1 Abrams tanks to coach and assist Ukrainian fighters.
“All of this can be a huge step forward, and I’m confident that this equipment and the training that comes with it can provide Ukrainian forces with the opportunity to proceed to succeed on the battlefield,” he said.
As well as, 150 Leopard 2 tanks he promissed by nine Western allies last month are starting to reach.
![Western countries, including Germany and Poland, pledged to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to support the spring offensive.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009959406.jpg?w=1024)
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said German outlet Tagesschau his country will deliver six Leopard 2 tanks in the coming days, followed by an extra delivery of 4.
Germany has thus far delivered 18 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Portugal greater than 3, and Poland 14, reported the Guardian.
Meanwhile, Britain donated 14 Challenger 2 tanks.
Former British Army Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said The Sun that the tanks would help Ukrainian soldiers break through Russia’s defenses and eventually destroy their forces behind enemy-occupied territory, causing the most damage.
“Now that they’ve tanks and melee artillery, I’m pretty sure they’ll have the option to do it [succeed]”.
![The Ukrainian Defense Contact Group has delivered more than 230 tanks and 1,550 armored vehicles in recent months.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000006219407.jpg?w=1024)
The influx of arms and training for Ukraine comes as Russia makes little progress, including in a months-long battle for control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Based on the Russian Ministry of Defense Moscow captured three more districts in the western a part of the city.
“The airborne troops held back the Ukrainian units on the flanks and supported the operations of the assault troops to capture the city,” the ministry said.
But those gains could also be dampened by Russia’s troubles at home maintaining his narrative that “denazification” is the goal of the invasion.
![Russia has made little progress in the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000010008486.jpg?w=1024)
Moscow has reportedly canceled its annual World War II commemoration marches of the “Great Patriotic War” Immortal Regiment, fearing it can be used to focus on the country’s losses to Ukraine. UK Ministry of Defense intelligence update.
Meanwhile, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group whose soldiers are heavily involved in Bakhmut’s campaign, has publicly questioned whether there really are any Nazis in Ukraine to defeat.
“Authorities continued to attempt to unite Russian society around polarizing myths about the Forties,” the UK Ministry of Defense said.
Prigozhin also appears to be sweating over the upcoming Ukrainian offensive, which will likely be augmented by newer and advanced weapons and expects the assault to start after the end of the spring “mud season”.
![Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner's mercenary group fighting the Russian troops, is concerned about the impending attack on Ukraine with new and more advanced weapons.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000006219419.jpg?w=1024)
“They may attack … they may come and check out to separate us and we must resist,” he said in a recording shared on Telegram.
The priority comes as Russia prepares to bolster its military with lawmakers passing a recent law which allows authorities to send electronic draft notices to conscripts and reservists along with physical mail notices.
The brand new alert system will close a loophole that many Russians used to avoid being summoned by staying away from their official addresses.
With postal wires.