 Ukrainian Army starts formation operations for counter-offensive. Ukrainian troops have begun formation operations ahead of a long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian forces. This was reported by CNN, citing a high-ranking American military official and other Western officials. Formation includes strikes on targets such as ammunition storage points, command posts, armoured vehicles and artillery systems to prepare the battlefield for the offensive forces. This is a standard tactic used before major joint operations. When Ukraine launched its counter-offensive last summer in the southern and north-eastern parts of the country, it was similarly preceded by airstrikes to prepare the battlefield for further offensive actions. According to a senior U.S. military official, these operations of forming the battlefield could last for many days before the central part of any planned Ukrainian offensive. The formation operations may also be aimed at confusing the Russians. Before this, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine needs more time to launch a counter-offensive against Russia, as the military still needs pledged Western aid. The President has also expressed his belief in Ukraine's victory before the U.S. elections in November 2024.