Russia’s new war plans for protracted conflict until 2026 ‘in line with recent efforts’ | Ukraine-Russia war

Last Friday it emerged that the Kremlin has set itself the goal of fighting in Ukraine for another 36 months and occupying large parts of the country. The German newspaper “Bild” reported this based on information from the intelligence services.

Specifically, Russia is said to be planning to “occupy Ukrainian territory beyond the four regions it annexed from 2024 to 2026.” The plan calls for placing the entire Donbass region – the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – under Russian control before the end of 2024, extending up to the Uskil River in the Kharkiv region.

The Institute for the Study of War, an American defense and foreign policy think tank with a focus on long-term military conflicts, was unable to independently verify the German newspaper Bild’s reports, but according to it, the new plans are “in line with recent efforts by Russia.” .

“Russia’s stated plans for war in Ukraine through 2026 are consistent with Russia’s ongoing preparations for a long-term war effort,” ISW said. “The Russian military leadership seeks long-term restructuring and expansion to form strategic reserves. In addition, Russia is gradually mobilizing its defense industrial base (DIB) to sustain a protracted war.

According to the American Research Center, these plans are reasonable, in reference to the recent “expansionist rhetoric” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He previously called on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from “Russian territory” as a necessary condition for resolving the war, but this will allow “Russian forces to continue their offensive operations and thus expand their positions in the Kharkiv region.”

look. Russia claims to have captured a village in the Donetsk region of Ukraine