“Ukrainian Counter-Offensive Preparations in Full Swing: Andri Jermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelensky, Gives Details to NOS News”

• Chiem Balduk

  foreign editor

Preparations for the Ukrainian counter-offensive are in full swing. That is what Andri Jermak, confidant of President Zelensky, says in conversation with NOS and News hour. Virtually all the necessary weapons and combat vehicles promised by the West to Ukraine are now in the country. “In the case of the Netherlands, everything has been delivered. But of course we need more weapons.”

Jermak does not say much about the announced and long-awaited counter-offensive. “I can’t say much about it, but our goal is to liberate everything with as few losses as possible. We want to go back to the borders we had since independence in 1991.” He makes it clear that Kyiv is determined to completely liberate Crimea and Donbas. “Of course, those regions belong to the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine.”

As chief of the presidential staff, Jermak is a major supporter of Zelensky. They have been good friends for a long time; both were leading TV and film producers before their political careers. Jermak helped Zelensky win the 2019 presidential election as a campaign aide. He was then rewarded with the post of Chief of Staff and member of the National Security Council. It makes him the second most important man in Ukraine.

Earlier today, Ukraine’s defense minister said preparations for the counterattack are “almost complete”. The signals also seem to be green: Western arms deliveries have been completed, the organization of new battalions should now be completed and the weather forecast is positive. When the counter-offensive begins, only “three to five people” know, according to Kyiv.

Interviews like this belong to Ukraine’s media strategy. During the interview, Jermak repeatedly expresses his gratitude for the Dutch military, economic and humanitarian aid. He also seizes the conversation for a plea for more weapons and the delivery of fighter planes. “I think it will be decided in the short term to deliver F16s.”

In addition, Ukraine is lobbying for the delivery of long-range missiles to hit Russia far behind the frontline, for example at storage depots or military centers. Western allies fear that such weapons could be used to attack targets deep inside Russia. Jermak assures: “We have no plans to attack Russian territory, we are concerned about our own territory.”

Not all NATO allies are eager to supply such weapons and fighter jets. The main ally, the United States, has for the time being refrained from supplying F16s. Still, the top advisor thinks such deliveries will start. “A coalition can be formed with countries that do want to supply, as happened before with the ‘tank coalition’.”

In recent weeks, Russia has been actively preparing for the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, by building defense lines along the front line. Yet Moscow seems to want to make it clear that it is not the wait and see party. After the deadly rocket attack on Uman last Friday, a new rocket rain followed last night. The eastern Ukrainian logistics hub Pavlohrad, among others, was hit. There were 34 injured, dozens of homes were damaged.

Russia claims that a depot containing ammunition, weapons and fuel has been destroyed. As a result, three Ukrainian battalions could not continue preparations for the counter-offensive, the Kremlin said. This claim cannot be independently verified.

Jermak speaks of “Russian propaganda”. According to him, no military targets were hit, only civilian targets. “It was about people who couldn’t sleep,” said the chief of staff. “They were people who want to live a normal life. Russia is waging war against that.”