Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 03.04 – 09.04

Ukraine is preparing for a large-scale counteroffensive at the front

CNN interviewed unnamed officials from Western countries about the counteroffensive being prepared by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In general, the officials said that Ukraine is actively preparing for the upcoming counteroffensive by stockpiling ammunition and striking at Russian military targets deep behind enemy lines.

Earlier, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the counteroffensive is expected to take place in April-May.

We wrote about this in more detail in this article. 
 

Leaked US documents expose Russian fear of Ukrainian counteroffensive - ISW

Russian war supporters have reacted with concern to the publication on social media of classified US and NATO documents related to the preparation of the Armed Forces, which shows that the fear of a future Ukrainian counteroffensive remains in the Russian information space, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War.

«Regardless of the veracity of the leaked documents, the reaction of Russian military leaders to the New York Times article emphasizes the fear of possible Ukrainian counteroffensives that permeates the Russian pro-military information space.

The NYT article has exposed a significant point of neuralgia in the Russian information space, and the reaction to the documents suggests that Russian bloggers are increasingly reconsidering the validity of their own assessments and speculation about potential Ukrainian counteroffensives, as well as their ability to predict Ukrainian military operations.»

ISW analysts noted that several prominent Russian bloggers have denied the authenticity of the documents and suggested that they are disinformation intended to confuse and mislead the Russian military command.

The institute also drew attention to a report by Bellingcat analyst Arik Toler that the documents had been circulating on the Internet as early as March 4, but for some reason only appeared in leading Western media a month later.
 

Polish President presents Zelensky with Poland's highest honor

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on an official visit to Poland on April 5.

President Duda and his wife, Agata, welcomed the Zelenskyis to the presidential palace.

Shortly after the meeting ceremony, Duda presented Zelenskyy with an order «for merits in deepening relations between Poland and Ukraine, security activities, and steadfastness in defending human rights,» the Polish president's office said on Twitter.

Duda emphasized that the Order of the White Eagle is the oldest and most valuable Polish award. It is awarded to exceptional people who have contributed to the development of Poland with their lives.

We wrote about Zelenskyy's visit to Poland in this article. 
 

Kremlin resorts to nuclear blackmail again - ISW

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)  suggest that the Kremlin is once again resorting to nuclear threats to deter Western military assistance to Ukraine ahead of a planned counteroffensive.

Analysts suggest that the Kremlin is likely to try to force Belarus to further integrate into the Union State.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu justified Russia's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, accusing NATO of intensifying combat training and intelligence activities near the Russian and Belarusian borders, and accused the West of escalating the war in Ukraine by providing additional military assistance to Ukraine on April 4.

In addition, the Kremlin continues to make efforts to falsely assure the Russian public that the war in Ukraine will not have significant long-term economic consequences.
 

Chinese leader confirms he will talk to Zelenskyy «when conditions are right» - von der Leyen

After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she had raised the issue of the latter's talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

«I have urged President Xi to talk to President Zelensky, I know this from phone conversations with President Zelensky, and he has publicly asked for this,» the European Commission President said.

«So it was interesting to hear that President Xi confirmed his willingness to have a conversation when the conditions and time are right. I think this is a positive element,» she added.

In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron met with the Chinese leader in Beijing.

During the talks in Beijing, Macron said that the West should engage Beijing to help end the war and prevent a «spiral» of tensions that could split the world into warring blocs.

In comments after his meeting with Macron, Xi Jinping called for talks between the two sides and a political solution to the war in Ukraine.

The talks were «frank and constructive,» the Elysee Palace said, while Beijing said the discussions were «friendly» and «in-depth.»

Macron also asked Xi to press Russia to abide by international rules on nuclear non-proliferation. 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.