For Ukraine, the turning point in the war with Russia will come when the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to take control of Melitopol, Mariupol, Luhansk and Simferopol.

This opinion was expressed by the speaker of the international volunteer community InformNapalm, a soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Mykhailo Makaruk

in an exclusive interview with TSN.ua.

When asked what a turning point in the war is, Makaruk answered:

"

This is the capture of four cities - Melitopol, Mariupol, Luhansk and Simferopol. Then most of the strategic problems of the war will be solved

."

As a soldier of the Armed Forces predicts, the city that the occupiers will hold on to until the last is Mariupol.

"

Donetsk may fall earlier than Mariupol

... Because it is a demonstration of crimes against humanity. It is a kind of Auschwitz, which they are now trying to clean up completely, and they do not have time," he explained.

At the same time, the military does not place too high hopes on the expected counteroffensive of the Armed Forces.

"Everyone believed that tanks are a panacea - it's not a panacea. Without the support of motorized infantry units, which will be trained on normal armored vehicles, without artillery support, without the protection of the sky by aviation - there will be no nihr*na... We still have mortars and there are not enough shells for mortars - what planes are we talking about, give mortars. Now there is euphoria - we will get planes, and victory for sure. Planes don't enter populated areas, infantry does," said Makaruk.

The fighter also emphasized that there are major problems with motor vehicles and mobilization resources in the Armed Forces.

"I see that the future counteroffensive will be well planned, but

with the resources, forces and means that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can use, I do not believe that the war will end this year

," he believes.

We will remind, following the results of the last Ramstein summit, the allies decided to allocate tanks and armored vehicles, air defense equipment and ammunition to Ukraine.

US Defense Secretary 

Lloyd Austin

 said that Western allies are determined to continue supporting Ukraine and believe in the success of Ukrainian forces during the spring offensive.

As military expert 

Oleksandr Musienko

explained , now the Armed Forces are at the stage preceding the counteroffensive — this is "accumulation of resources for this important stage with the help of our partners who give us weapons."

The former spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 

Vladyslav Seleznyov

 , predicts that by the end of August 2023, Ukraine will enter the state border of the 1991 model.

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  • War in Ukraine

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