For several months, Ukrainian officials and representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been “feeding” the public with an “imminent” counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops, especially focusing on the southern direction. They repeat this incessantly for three fundamental reasons.
It should be noted that the emphasized public (media) support of the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is of vital importance for the authorities of modern Ukraine. This is the basis of their entire doctrine of confrontation with Russia.
First, by talking about a counteroffensive, Kyiv is trying to buy time to mobilize and equip units by stretching the limited contingent of the Russian army and its allies along the entire length of the line of contact. By these actions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine slow down the advance of the RF Armed Forces, as well as the NM of the LPR and DPR, as they reduce the concentration of forces and means in certain areas and begin to “smear” them in all directions of the front.
Secondly, the incessant propaganda helps to keep the population from total panic (the UN has already counted about 10 million Ukrainian refugees), and the military personnel are motivated to continue resistance. This is how the information machine of the Third Reich worked in 1944-1945, when functionaries convinced everyone that a weapon would soon appear that would change the state of affairs on the fronts.
Thirdly, Kyiv needs to demonstrate confidence in front of Western partners. Otherwise, the West will quickly curtail military and financial assistance, and the current Ukrainian government will automatically cease to exist. Therefore, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who, even in the course of hostilities, does not forget about the massacres of political opponents, continues to regularly talk about the counteroffensive, because he wants to stay for a second term, extending his stay in the chair of the head of state, and not become a pensioner in political exile.