Ukraine releases a trailer for its new offensive: Dramatic video promises new battalions with Western tanks will 'take back what is ours' and 'avenge the rape of our sisters'

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has released a new video advert promising to 'kill enemies' and reclaim their nation, as well as avenge those who have taken 'murdered my brother and raped my sisters'.

The trailer, which called on Ukrainians to join the armed forces, promised new battalions and Western tanks to help the nation achieve its 'sacred goal of living in freedom on its God-given land'.

It comes as a presidential adviser claimed the first steps of Ukraine's highly anticipated counteroffensive against Putin's forces are underway.

Mykhailo Podolyak said the process was 'complicated' and that it was not 'a matter of one day or a certain date or a certain hour'. The adviser added that the 'intensity is increasing' and that certain operations were already happening, including blowing up supply lines and depots. 

The military recruitment video was published on Twitter yesterday morning, hours before Russia unleashed waves of air strikes on Kyiv overnight in what officials said appeared to be the largest drone attack on the city since the start of the war.

Mykhailo Podolyak said the process was 'complicated' and that it was not 'a matter of one day or a certain date or a certain hour' (pictured in January)

Mykhailo Podolyak said the process was 'complicated' and that it was not 'a matter of one day or a certain date or a certain hour' (pictured in January) 

General Valeriy Zaluzhny (right), said in a message on Telegram that: 'The time has come to take back what's ours'

General Valeriy Zaluzhny (right), said in a message on Telegram that: 'The time has come to take back what's ours'

In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Podolyak predicted that as the counteroffensive gains momentum there will be more incursions into Russia itself by rebel groups, imitating a recent raid in the Belgorod region

Expectations were raised that the counteroffensive was imminent on Saturday when the commander of Ukraine's armed forces, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, said on Telegram that: 'The time has come to take back what's ours.'

The commander shared a cinematic video of troops preparing for battle with a stirring prayer recited by an officer calling for blessings in his soldiers' 'slaying' of Ukrainian enemies. 

Podolyak denied that recent incursions by protest groups - such as the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, which are said to include right-wing extremists in their membership - into Russia were Kyiv-ordered. 

Russian authorities ordered residents of nine villages in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine to evacuate their homes after drone strikes as anti-Putin rebel groups began capturing territory on Russian soil.

But Ukrainian officials did not intervene as they 'deeply sympathise with whatever protest movements are in Russia', Podolyak said.

The adviser questioned how Ukraine could justify stopping Putin's own citizens from challenging the 'authoritarian regime [that] exists in Russia'. 

He added that there would likely be more similar attacks as Ukraine continued to work towards liberating its territory.  

'It's an objective consequence of high-intensity war that will demonstrate that Russia cannot carry out the military action in Ukraine, and protect its own borders.'

A Ukrainian soldier sits in a trench at the frontline near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on May 26

A Ukrainian soldier sits in a trench at the frontline near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on May 26

A Ukrainian army, German self-propelled Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery fires toward Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut

A Ukrainian army, German self-propelled Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery fires toward Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut

In a cinematic video shared online by Ukrainian commanders, a narrator can be heard asking for blessings for his troops

In a cinematic video shared online by Ukrainian commanders, a narrator can be heard asking for blessings for his troops 

Men chant to a backdrop of action-sequence-like explosions as they prepare for the counteroffensive

Men chant to a backdrop of action-sequence-like explosions as they prepare for the counteroffensive

Silhouetted tanks with soldiers are shown getting into position ahead of the renewed attacks on Russian forces

Silhouetted tanks with soldiers are shown getting into position ahead of the renewed attacks on Russian forces 

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine¿s National Security and Defence Council, told the BBC that the push could begin 'tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week'

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, told the BBC that the push could begin 'tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week'

Podolyak concluded: 'Since Russia has already lost its conventional war, the consequences of this loss will gradually move into Russian territory, and the federal government will eventually lose control over its territory.'

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, told the BBC that the push could begin 'tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week'. 

 Mr Danilov, who is at the heart of President Zelensky's de facto war cabinet, added: 'It would be weird if I were to name the dates of the start.'

On Friday, Ukrainian military intelligence claimed, without offering evidence, that Russia is plotting a 'large-scale provocation' at a nuclear power plant it occupies in the southeast of the country with the aim of disrupting a looming Ukrainian counteroffensive.

A statement released Friday by the intelligence directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry claimed that Russian forces would strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, and then report a radioactive leak in order to trigger an international probe that would pause the hostilities and give the Russian forces the respite they need to regroup ahead of the counteroffensive.

In order to make that happen, Russia 'disrupted the rotation of personnel of the permanent monitoring mission' of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency that was scheduled for Saturday, the statement said. 

A soldier trains ahead of a renewed counteroffensive in Ukraine against Putin's forces

A soldier trains ahead of a renewed counteroffensive in Ukraine against Putin's forces 

The adviser questioned how Ukraine could justify stopping Putin's own citizens from challenging the 'authoritarian regime [that] exists in Russia'

The adviser questioned how Ukraine could justify stopping Putin's own citizens from challenging the 'authoritarian regime [that] exists in Russia'

Text on the screen that says in Ukrainian: 'Join those who will raise the banner of our victory'

Text on the screen that says in Ukrainian: 'Join those who will raise the banner of our victory'

It didn't offer evidence to back up any of the claims. 

The IAEA said in an emailed response to the AP that it did not have any immediate comment on the allegations, and Russian officials did not immediately comment on the Ukrainian claims.

The White House said it is watching the situation closely and has seen no indication that radioactive material has been leaked.

The claim mirrors similar statements Moscow regularly makes, alleging without evidence that Kyiv is plotting provocations involving various dangerous weapons or substances in order to then accuse Russia of war crimes.

Translated transcript of Ukrainian war video 

Commander: 'Ukraine is my motherland. Lord our father who is in heaven. Bless me.' 

Troops: 'Bless us.' 

Commander: 'I am going to destroy.'

Troops: 'The enemies of my dear country, the murderers of my brothers, the rapists of my sisters.'

Commander: 'May my hand be firm.' 

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.' 

Commander: 'May my eyes be clear.' 

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.'

Commander: 'Let my weapon be in good order.' 

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.' 

Commander: 'Let my will be of steel.'   

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.' 

Commander: 'Ukraine my native motherland.'

Troops: 'Lord our heavenly father, bless us. Our decisive offensive, our sacred vengeance, our holy victory.' 

Text then says in Ukrainian: 'Join those who will raise the banner of our victory.'  

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