NYT predicts where Ukraine might launch counteroffensive

The most promising direction of Ukraine's counteroffensive, which is expected to kick off soon, will be the country’s south, with a focus on Melitopol.

This is suggested in an article published by The New York Times, Ukrinform reports.

Most of the territory occupied by Russia is within the range of HIMARS missiles, which forced Russia to move arms depots, command centers and other critical supplies further from the front, according to analysts.

Melitopol, the city located at the intersection of two important freeways and a critical rail line, makes it critical for Russian supplies in the south, therefore it may become an obvious target of the Ukrainian advance.

The publication emphasizes that in the event of a successful breakthrough by Ukraine, Russian control over Kherson region will be significantly hampered.

Without supply lines from the east, Russian reinforcements will be able to arrive only from Crimea via a much longer route, which is also within the range of HIMARS missiles, the article notes.

At the same time, the NYT points to Ukraine's limited capabilities to pursue the offensive in the east as Russia has been strengthening their positions in the area and establishing supply lines since 2014.

In order to attack elsewhere, Ukraine needs to restrain Russia's advance, while maintaining its own manpower and equipment, according to analysts.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are prepared for Russia's likely attempts to once again attack Kharkiv.