 Bad weather not allowing Kiev to launch counter-offensive. Weather conditions are not conducive for Ukrainian troops to launch a counter-offensive. Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom Vadim Prostakov told the Sky News television channel. First of all, we're not signaling the Russians when we're starting and second, the weather so far is not allowing the tanks to move, the Ukrainian ambassador said, citing muddy conditions as a restricting factor. He also added that Kiev does not intend to tell Moscow the exact date and exact direction of the planned counter-offensive. The New York Times reported on April 25, citing the Pentagon's classified documents leaked into the Internet and U.S. intelligence data that Ukrainian troops plan to launch their counter-offensive in the southern direction next month. As the paper pointed out, Ukraine was set to prepare 12 combat brigades of about 4,000 soldiers each. Journalists say that although Ukraine shares few details of its operational plan with U.S. officials, the operation is likely to unfold in the country south, including along Ukraine's coastline on the Sea of Azov, near the Russia annexed Crimea. American and NATO allies have supplied Ukraine with extensive artillery and ammunition for the upcoming battle. And yet American military officials say it is possible that Ukraine's army could once again surprise them. They are now armed with European tanks and American armored personnel carriers and have new units trained and equipped by Americans and NATO forces.