As Russia's Summer Assaults Stall, Is Fall Ukraine Counteroffensive Coming?

With Ukrainian forces across the front largely appearing to hold against Russia's once vaunted but now derided summer offensive, rumors of a late summer-early autumn Ukrainian counteroffensive are rising especially, interestingly enough, among Russian sources.

While such an eventuality would not be unexpected given Ukraine's past performance, the fact that such stories are already spreading may be enough to quash the speculation. JL

Espreso Global reports:

Ukraine can withstand Russia's ongoing offensive. "The most important task now is to hold out against the onslaught Putin promised to deliver within 60 days. I believe we will hold. We’ll stop the enemy and enter September much stronger than they expect. The Russians are actively circulating reports that Ukraine is planning a large-scale counteroffensive in August or early September. They genuinely expect it. As far as I know, no such operation is planned at the moment — though there are some signs that our Defense Forces are preparing for something."

Russia is spreading claims that Ukraine’s Defense Forces are preparing for counteroffensive operations in August or early September

Viktor Yahun, former Deputy Head of the SBU (2014–2015), SBU Reserve Major General, and military expert, said this on Espreso TV.

"The Russians are actively circulating reports that Ukraine is planning a large-scale counteroffensive in August or early September. They genuinely expect it," Yahun said. "As far as I know, no such operation is planned at the moment — though there are some signs that our Defense Forces are preparing for something."

Yahun said he believes Ukraine can withstand Russia’s ongoing offensive. According to him, once the Ukrainian Defense Forces stop the Russian advance, the country will be in a stronger position.

"The most important task now is to hold out against the onslaught Putin promised to deliver within 60 days," he said. "Then we’ll be able to look those in the eye who claimed Ukraine wouldn’t survive this offensive and would collapse. I believe we will hold. We’ll stop the enemy and enter September much stronger than they expect."

• On Saturday, August 2, there were 138 combat clashes along the Russian-Ukrainian front. Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 37 times in the heavily contested Pokrovsk direction.