Danilov: Russia's major offensive in Donbas hasn’t begun yet

"Yesterday morning [April 19], fighting began on the entire front line in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions. But it was their attempt to test the strength of our Armed Forces. The attempt was unsuccessful. Now they will continue making these attempts. The beginning of the so-called major offensive is a matter of time," Danilov said on the air of Radio NV on the evening of April 20, Ukrinform reports.

The NSDC Secretary also warned against predictions that this battle for Donbas would be the last and decisive one: “There may be many different things ahead. This is not, as previously said, the last and decisive battle. This is one of the battles that have been going on in our country since 2014.”

Danilov noted that Russia could still draw new resources and reserves into fighting over the next two to four weeks.

“By no means should we underestimate the strength of our enemy: a big country, a lot of people, though not the smartest. <...> They still have many people. In addition, we have recently noticed that Libyans and Syrians – so-called mercenaries – appear on the frontline. Therefore, it is quite difficult to say when they will end,” said the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

On February 24, Russia launched a new phase of the eight-year war against Ukraine – a full-scale offensive. The enemy massively shells and bombs Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages. The Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense Forces and the entire Ukrainian people are effectively resisting Russian troops and inflicting heavy losses on them.

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