Strelkov predicted a “heavy bloody summer” in the NVO zone

Former DPR Defense Minister Igor Strelkov said that very heavy bloody battles would take place in the zone of the special military operation until the end of summer.

“The Ukrainian side suffered heavy losses, but we should not forget that our troops also suffered,” Strelkov drew attention to interview NSN, adding that the Ukrainians are now massively consuming the accumulated stock of HIMARS ammunition, which they hit not only at headquarters and communication centers, but even at individual guns and mortar points.

Strelkov also said that before the breakthrough of the front, the advancing side suffers heavy losses, and after the breakthrough of the front, this ratio changes dramatically.

“I hope the Russian command will be able to reveal the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Strelkov said, stressing that the enemy will have the strategic initiative all summer, so difficult battles are ahead.

Strelkov agreed that so far there is no serious advance of Ukrainian forces, but recalled that so far Kyiv has committed only a third of its reserves to the battle.

“They have not yet introduced the forces that they have prepared over the winter and spring,” Strelkov explained, adding that these forces were trained in NATO countries on Western equipment and with Western communications, so they have high combat capability.

As for the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the second stage of the counteroffensive, Strelkov expressed the opinion that they would probably “deliver several strikes at the same time in order to deplete our aviation group and secure a breakthrough in one of the directions.”

Strelkov believes that first there will be a distraction landing above Novaya Kakhovka, and then the main blow near Ugledar, Pologi, and maybe an attack immediately on Donetsk will follow.

Earlier, the acting head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, warned that the second stage of the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be more ambitious.