Arestovych said that, in addition to the war for Donetsk, Ukraine hoped to conduct counter-offensives in the country's south.
“Taking the cities in the east meant that 60 percent of Russian forces are now concentrated in the east and it is difficult for them to be redirected to the south,” he said. “And there are no more forces that can be brought in from Russia. They paid a big price for Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.”