Ukraine ‘increasingly ready’ for counteroffensive, Western officials say

Troops have ‘much higher’ morale than Vladimir Putin’s forces and have the potential to break through enemy lines, officials suggested.

A block of flats following a Russian air strike on Dnipro in south-eastern Ukraine (Arsen Dzodzaev/AP/PA) (PA Media)

Ukraine is approaching an increased “state of readiness” to launch its expected counteroffensive against the Russian occupation, Western officials say.

Troops have “much higher” morale than Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces as they gear up to free territories within their country’s borders, they suggested.

Asked what would qualify as a successful operation, one Western official said Ukrainians have to be “able to show that they are having momentum” with “more than piecemeal penny packets of forces going forward.”