Putin Plans to Prolong the War and Capture Several Cities in Ukraine

This information comes from German newspaper Bild, citing intelligence sources.

To achieve this goal, Putin is ready to simulate peace negotiations. He may opt for a temporary ceasefire or even sign a peace agreement that will not be honored.

By the end of 2024, Russia plans to establish full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and advance to the Oskol River in the Kharkiv region. The plan by the end of 2026 is to advance further west to the Dnipro River and seize a significant portion of the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, including the cities of Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia. At the same time, in Kherson Oblast, Russia plans to maintain a defensive position along the Dnipro without advancing into Kherson or Odesa.

The Russians aim to capture all eastern territories to the left of the Dnipro within 36 months, making the river a new frontline. Putin is reportedly willing to lose up to 100,000 people in Ukraine each year.

This plan is ambitious and risky, requiring significant resources and efforts from Russia. However, Putin seems prepared for it, viewing the war in Ukraine as his historical mission and believing that he cannot afford to lose.

Reaction from the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR): The Ukrainian GUR emphasizes that Moscow will attempt to capture new territories. In a comment to LIGA.net, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Chernyak, confirmed the occupiers’ intentions to advance further on the front. However, he notes that the Russian Federation lacks the necessary military resources for this.

Photo: open sources