Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin'

Ukraine is ready to launch its long-expected counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, one of the country's most senior security officials, has told the BBC.

Danilov would not name a date, but said an assault to retake territory from Russia's occupying forces could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".

He warned that Ukraine's government had "no right to make a mistake" on the decision because this was an "historic opportunity" that "we cannot lose".

As secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Danilov is at the heart of President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet.

During the interview with BBC, he also confirmed that some Wagner mercenary forces were withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut, the site of the bloodiest battle of the war so far - but he added they were "regrouping to another three locations" and "it doesn't mean that they will stop fighting with us".

Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months. In the meantime, Russian forces have been preparing their defences. Much is at stake because the government in Kyiv needs to show the people of Ukraine – and Western allies – that it can break through Russian lines, end the effective military deadlock and recapture some of its sovereign territory.

Danilov said the armed forces would begin the assault when commanders calculated "we can have the best result at that point of the war".

Asked if Ukrainian armed forces were ready for the offensive, he replied, "We are always ready. The same as we were ready to defend our country at any time."