Baranov told the Independient newspaper that his country’s units plan to use the “experience” gained in the last few years to “strike a devastating blow to the Russians” if the situation on the contact line becomes “more static.”

The military officer added that he expects “numerous counterattacks” on the country’s power infrastructure, and noted that the conflict is “difficult for Ukraine” and “the Russians are cautious, they have a lot of people, and a lot of resources.”

According to Baranov, Russia has been “long preparing” for a large-scale conflict, and he asked again the West for ammunition, noting that in order to “succeed,” the Ukrainian armed forces must spend the same amount of ammunition as Russia.

The Ukrainian military command has admitted the defeat in the 2023 campaign.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, accepted the country’s impossibility to achieve a “deep and beautiful breakthrough” and announced a stalemate in the front.

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