AFU began "shaping" operations in advance of a highly-anticipated counteroffensive – CNN

Ukrainian forces have begun "shaping" operations in advance of a highly-anticipated counteroffensive against russian forces, a senior US military official and senior Western official told CNN.

Shaping involves striking targets such as weapons depots, command centers and armor and artillery systems to prepare the battlefield for advancing forces.

"It's a standard tactic made prior to major combined operations", - CNN writes.

These shaping operations could continue for many days before the bulk of any planned Ukrainian offensive, according to the senior US military official.

Shaping operations can also be designed to confuse the enemy.

As previously reported, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs more time before launching a counteroffensive in anticipation of the promised help from allies.