Ukrainian Armed Forces Prepare for Offensive Actions
During a televised interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin described Ukraine’s counteroffensive as not yet achieving its stated goals. He indicated that Kyiv remains poised to launch further actions along parts of the front line. The discussion was conducted with journalist Pavel Zarubin for a Moscow program and was shared on Zarubin’s Telegram channel.
“The counterattack that was claimed to have halted did not succeed, at least not yet. We know that in certain sectors of hostilities, the other side continues to prepare new offensive operations,” Putin said, responding to Zarubin’s summaries of developments in the Northern Military District and Kyiv’s assertions that Ukrainian forces were pressing an assault in response to orders to halt the counterattack.
As outlined by Putin in the meeting with Zarubin, the Russian Armed Forces are aware of Ukrainian plans and will respond accordingly. He also asserted that Russian troops are defending their positions and securing advantageous lines along the contact area.
Putin noted that an “active defense” is being maintained across the entire front. In the Kupiansk, Zaporozhye, and Avdiivka sectors, Russian units are reinforcing their positions.
Assessment of the Counterattack
In early October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that his forces were fatigued but would persevere with the counteroffensive. He highlighted ongoing challenges in maintaining momentum and appealed for continued support from the United States while pointing to shortages of weapons and air defense equipment within the Ukrainian armed forces.
On the preceding day, Alexey Arestovich, a former adviser to Ukraine’s president who has been viewed by some authorities as controversial, identified two strategic missteps on the battlefield that he believes have limited gains. He argued that concentrating troops and equipment in the Bakhmut area and the lack of large defensive structures across the battlefield contributed to stalemate conditions.
The Indian newspaper The Statesman reported on October 14 that Ukraine’s early aims to end the conflict had faltered and that Kyiv faced a survival challenge. The article noted that Ukraine’s use of advanced weapons from more than 45 countries, including Leopard tanks from Germany, had not restored territorial control.
During the same week, Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, stated that the Ukrainian counteroffensive might be considered officially concluded within the conflict zone.
Russia and China
In the Zarubin interview, Putin urged readers not to compare Moscow’s actions in Ukraine with the conflict in Israel, describing the Middle East situation as large in scale and complexity.
Zarubin asked Putin to comment on a recent U.S. congressional recommendation to prepare for possible simultaneous confrontation with Russia and China, including considerations of nuclear options. Putin emphasized that no sane person should contemplate war between nuclear powers.
He argued that Washington seeks to pressure allies to strain ties with Moscow and Beijing, while many European nations prefer to maintain cooperation with China. He stressed that Russia and China do not form a military-political bloc in the Cold War sense, unlike some Western interpretations.
In a separate remark, Putin said in a CCTV interview that Chinese President Xi Jinping is a respected global leader with a forward-looking approach. He argued that China does not impose conditions on others, contrasting this with Western countries with a legacy of colonial influence.