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The head of NATO: Ukraine, in a good position to liberate the occupied territory

2023-04-27 15:19:24, Kosova & Bota CNA

The head of NATO: Ukraine, in a good position to liberate the occupied territory

The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on April 27 that military assistance from allies and partners has significantly improved Ukraine's chances of liberating territories occupied by Russia since the start of its unprovoked invasion.

The statement by the head of the North Atlantic military alliance came as official Kiev reported that fierce fighting was taking place to gain control of Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been the epicenter of the Russian offensive.

Stoltenberg, speaking to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said that "more than 98 percent" of the combat equipment promised by the allies had already been delivered to Ukraine.

"We are talking about over 1,550 armored vehicles, 230 tanks and other equipment, including large amounts of ammunition," he said at a press conference with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

"In total, we have trained and equipped more than nine new Ukrainian armored brigades. This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue retaking the occupied territory," Stoltenberg said.

It is not known exactly how many troops were involved in these exercises, but in Western armies, a brigade has about three to five thousand soldiers.

However, the head of the military alliance warned that "we must never underestimate Russia" despite the "unprecedented" military support Ukraine received from its partners and allies.

Moscow was "ready to send thousands of troops with a very high casualty rate," he said.

Stoltenberg's statements came amid reports that Kiev was preparing a long-awaited counteroffensive that could be launched once the weather warms and the terrain improves.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin-linked businessman who controls the notorious Wagner mercenary group that is leading the Russian attack on Bakhmut, said on April 26 that Kiev would most likely launch its own counteroffensive, which he called "inevitable." early next month.

The Ukrainian side has not commented on Prigozhin's statement./ REL