Ukraine's Military Teases Long-Awaited Counteroffensive with Call for Strategic Silence

Ukrainian forces have released a video urging operational silence around the long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian forces, featuring masked front-line troops gesturing for silence amid the distant rumble of artillery and gunfire. The video ends with images of soaring F-16 fighter jets, long coveted by Kyiv as it seeks to boost its air defense against Russian missiles and drones. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly discouraged public speculation over the counter-offensive operation, saying it could help the enemy. Kyiv's Western allies in recent months have provided weapons, armor, and ammunition for the counter-offensive, which military experts have said could prove difficult against dug-in Russian forces.