“Ukrainian Military on High Alert, Awaiting Orders to Launch Retaliatory Strike Against Russia”

KIEV – The Ukrainian military is broadly ready to launch a retaliatory strike against Russia, but is awaiting orders to strike from senior officials in Kiev. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Aleksey Reznikov.

“As soon as we get God’s will, the weather and the decision from the command, we will do it,” the official said during a press conference, as quoted from Russia TodayFriday (28/4/2023).

Reznikov briefed the media on the state of Ukrainian forces and the use of heavy weapons provided by Western backers.

“Ukraine has been equipped with highly advanced weapons systems, especially in terms of armored fists (armored fighting vehicles),” the Ukrainian minister reported, though he added that training on how to operate them was still ongoing.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week that members of the US-led military bloc had delivered 98% of the promised weapons to Kiev, including 1,550 armored vehicles and 230 tanks.

The head of US European Command, Christopher Cavoli, also made a similar assessment during a congressional hearing.

However, Mikhail Podoliak, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has challenged the claims. In an interview he asserted that the delivery rates cited by NATO officials were “too high” and his country needed more weapons.