The Ukrainian military on Sunday renewed its request for operational silence around a long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian forces, the latest in a series of messages from kyiv as it prepares for the assault.
Anticipation has grown around what is expected to be a broad attack by Ukrainian forces to retake Russian-occupied territory in the east and south. But Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly discouraged public speculation about the operation, claiming it could help the enemy.
In recent days, the authorities have also cracked down on citizens who shared 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 on official Telegram channels, apparently referring to the counteroffensive.
The elegantly produced video showed masked and well-armed frontline troops putting their fingers to their lips for silence amid the distant rumble of artillery and gunfire. It ended with images of F-16 fighter jets, highly coveted by kyiv to bolster its air defense against Russian missiles and drones.
In recent months, kyiv’s Western allies have provided weapons, armor and ammunition for the counteroffensive, which military experts say could prove difficult against entrenched Russian forces.
In an interview published on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said kyiv was ready for the operation, but avoided making any predictions.
“To be honest, it can go a number of, completely different ways,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “But we’re going to do it and we’re ready.”
Other senior officials, such as Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, have also tried to temper expectations.
In some cases, however, the military has also fueled the hype. On social media, kyiv has often tried to intimidate the Kremlin.
Last week, he posted an eye-catching video of troops preparing for battle and reciting a moving blessing, which was later aired as a recruiting clip.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project