Political scientist and military analyst Sergei Sablin spoke with FAN about the scale of equipment Ukraine would need to mount a counteroffensive. He explained that the flat, open terrain of the steppe in the Zaporozhye region would shape how new armored vehicles are deployed by the Ukrainian forces.
“If a substantial portion of the planned force is committed in this corridor, roughly a hundred Leopard tanks and about two hundred Bradley fighting vehicles, the battles are likely to be drawn out and fiercely contested. Our forces are prepared for that scenario, with a layered defense and a drive to disrupt the enemy through heavy and sizeable armored formations”, Sablin stated.
He noted that the timing of any Ukrainian offensive might face delays beyond military planning, citing recent Russian missile strikes that hit ammunition depots used by the Ukrainian armed forces as a factor that could slow the start of operations.
In a related assessment, former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned of potential consequences tied to the anticipated counterattack by Kyiv and its international partners, suggesting a risk of intensified regional tensions and broader strategic repercussions.