[Goose]

Would have thought Zelensky's announcement that he has approved the start of the offensive would have rated a bit more here...

Since this is dated yesterday and I don't see this at BBC, SF Chronicle, Mercury News, or CNN, has this report been confirmed by anyone? 

The best source of this seems to be the Kyiv Post.  The timing and their still photo of their report suggest that it is from this video in Zelensky's tweet around 1PM PDT on 5/29.  The English that goes with that tweet doesn't report this.  However, the subtitles (starting 2:00) say

Today I had a meeting of the staff. The reports are very specific.  Supply of the air defense systems and missiles to them, relevant agreements with our partners  The effectiveness of our air defense and what can make our air defense stronger.  Hits that, unfortunately took place. Our defense forces are able to learn and will do everything to make it much more difficult for terrorists.  As usual, the Commander-in-Chief and the commanders of the operational directions reported to the Staff. Not only the supply of ammunition, not only the training of new brigades, not only our tactics, But also the timing. This is what is most important.  The timing of how we will move forward. We will. The decisions have been made.

If you want to believe that this says that the time of the offensive is set, you can.  But I read it as "HOW we will move forward", not "WHEN we will move forward". 

It certainly doesn't say that the start of the offensive is imminent.  (Consider the lead up to D-Day.)  It could just mean that "We will stage probing attacks at these places on day 1. And these on day 3, and then on day 5 we decide which of these targets we send our major attack force."

Indeed such a set of probing attacks fits well with the Ukraine's "normal" tactical approach, and we may see it repeated. This approach is however difficult to execute if you intend to use large combined arms forces to make the breakthrough, as these forces require a pretty large "footprint" for their support and follow-on elements. It is more usual to have identified the "schwerpunkt" in advance but to make other attacks to fix the enemy in place and keep him guessing as long as possible. What Ukraine will do is TBD.

[Goose]

Would have thought Zelensky's announcement that he has approved the start of the offensive would have rated a bit more here...

Since this is dated yesterday and I don't see this at BBC, SF Chronicle, Mercury News, or CNN, has this report been confirmed by anyone? 

The best source of this seems to be the Kyiv Post.  The timing and their still photo of their report suggest that it is from this video in Zelensky's tweet around 1PM PDT on 5/29.  The English that goes with that tweet doesn't report this.  However, the subtitles (starting 2:00) say

Today I had a meeting of the staff. The reports are very specific.  Supply of the air defense systems and missiles to them, relevant agreements with our partners  The effectiveness of our air defense and what can make our air defense stronger.  Hits that, unfortunately took place. Our defense forces are able to learn and will do everything to make it much more difficult for terrorists.  As usual, the Commander-in-Chief and the commanders of the operational directions reported to the Staff. Not only the supply of ammunition, not only the training of new brigades, not only our tactics, But also the timing. This is what is most important.  The timing of how we will move forward. We will. The decisions have been made.

If you want to believe that this says that the time of the offensive is set, you can.  But I read it as "HOW we will move forward", not "WHEN we will move forward". 

It certainly doesn't say that the start of the offensive is imminent.  (Consider the lead up to D-Day.)  It could just mean that "We will stage probing attacks at these places on day 1. And these on day 3, and then on day 5 we decide which of these targets we send our major attack force."

Indeed such a set of probing attacks fits well with the Ukraine's "normal" tactical approach, and we may see it repeated. This approach is however difficult to execute if you intend to use large combined arms forces to make the breakthrough, as these forces require a pretty large "footprint" for their support and follow-on elements. It is more usual to have identified the "schwerpunkt" in advance but to make other attacks to fix the enemy in place and keep him guessing as long as possible. What Ukraine will do is TBD.