Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov expects a successful counterattack by the end of this year by the Ukrainian army, but it needs more long-range heavy weapons. The minister told this in an interview with the Financial Times.

Reznikov is convinced that Ukraine will receive more long-range systems, in particular American HIMARS, which he says have changed the course of the war.

Over the past three weeks, Ukraine has used them to hit Russian ammunition depots far behind the front lines, damaging Moscow's artillery machine, the publication noted.

The U.S. was reluctant to send HIMARS, which have an 80-kilometer range and GPS guidance, fearing that such a move could escalate the war. Reznikov is confident that the partners will send more, including those with a range of 300 kilometers.

"I think it's a step-by-step move. We give them proof that we can use them with precision and finesse, and we get more and more range," the minister said.

Reznikov believes that Western weapons, which have a longer range and are more accurate than the old Soviet artillery, have reduced the number of deaths among the Ukrainian military in the Donbass, which averaged 100 per day in May.

More missiles and artillery will be needed for any Ukrainian attempt to repel a Russian counterattack, he said.

"Before the end of this year there will be a serious change in the battlefield in favor of Ukraine. (...) I hope that we will see a counteroffensive campaign this year, and it will be successful," the minister said.