The Pentagon believes in significant progress toward a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin believes that in the spring Ukraine will have a good opportunity to succeed with a new counteroffensive, taking advantage of the Russian army’s exhaustion and new military aid from Western countries. He explained that Ukraine’s defenders have managed to inflict significant losses on the occupiers, resulting in the Russian army’s reserves of armored vehicles being significantly depleted.

According to Austin, the capabilities of the Russian Federation are exhausted. Due to the losses, Russia is returning  old Soviet T-54 and T-55 tanks produced in the 1940s and 1950s to service. It is also difficult for the aggressor to provide their army with artillery shells and other equipment.

The head of the Pentagon believes in the “real” possibility of the Armed Forces achieving “significant progress” at the front before the beginning of next winter.