In their latest analysis, experts from the Institute of War Studies (ISW) pointed out that summer 2024 Russia plans to launch an offensive operation in Ukraine.
At the same time, specialists emphasize – citing sources in the Ukrainian services – that the aim of the activities is to be complete capture of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Ukraine-Russia. ISW: The Kremlin will try to take over the entire Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts
The ISW's claims were also confirmed by the commander of land units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk. According to the military, if the Russians manage to capture Donbas, the Kremlin army will also try to occupy the Zaporozhye Oblast.
Gen. Pawluk also stated that Russian forces also have a plan to capture the second most populated city in Ukraine – Kharkov – and also another peripheral city – Sum. He noted, however, that it is still unclear how serious Moscow's plan in this regard is Will the Russians actually manage to capture both centers?
According to the Institute, however Capturing Kharkov will be difficult for Russiabut a summer offensive operation in the area will likely bring additional troops there from other areas of the front line and will strengthen Ukrainian forces.
Volydmyr Zelensky: Now we are facing a new stage of the war
The ISW report also referred to the words president Volodymyr Zelenskywhich recently confirmed that The Russians plan to intensify their operations in the summer of 2024.
– Now we stand in front a new stage of the war. The occupier is preparing to try to expand offensive operations, the Ukrainian leader said on Friday, which was the 800th day of the conflict.
However, Zelensky did not specify where and how he believed the Kremlin's soldiers would move forward, but noted that currently all Ukrainians, as well as his country's allies “they must do everything in their power to thwart Russia's plans.” In turn, in an interview with CBS News in March, the president assessed that Moscow's offensive would begin at the turn of May and June.
ISW estimates that the first deliveries of new American military aid arrived in Ukraine earlier this week. “It will probably pass a few more weeks, before Western weapons and ammunition reach the front areas in their entirety,” it was noted.
Source: Ukrinform, Meduza
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