Alexander Danilenko, head of the media interaction group of the “Gart” brigade, provided an update on the situation at the Volchansk direction and discussed Putin’s plans during a national marathon broadcast. According to Danilenko, the enemy is constantly shelling the area using all available weapons, including artillery, mortars, and drones. The enemy is also active with reconnaissance and saboteur groups, but they are being discovered and stopped in cooperation with other Ukrainian Defense Forces units. Danilenko also revealed the main objectives of Putin in this region: creating a buffer zone in the Kharkiv region to secure his southern territories and to facilitate the shelling of Kharkiv, which is already heavily affected. Additionally, Putin aims to capture Volchansk and cross the Volchya River, setting the stage for a push towards Kupiansk. This could potentially encircle Ukrainian forces fighting in the Kupiansk direction. To prevent this from happening, Danilenko’s brigade is working with other Ukrainian units to counter the enemy’s advance in the northern part of the country.
Title: "What Are Putin’s Plans? Insights from Ukrainian Armed Forces"
This article is based on comments made by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Українські Збройні Сили, ВСУ) spokespeople and analysts, on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible strategic objectives and future plans. The Ukrainian military, having been on the frontline of the ongoing conflict, offers valuable insights into Putin’s motivations and intentions.
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Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Alexey Danilov, has repeatedly stated that Putin’s ultimate goal is to restore the Soviet Union, or at least, to perpetuate Russian influence over the former Soviet states. "Putin sees the collapse of the USSR as one of the greatest geopolitical cataclysms of the 20th century," Danilov said. "He wants to reverse that process, starting with Ukraine." This aspiration is reflected in Putin’s 2020 article "The Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" which questioned Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state.
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Defense Minister of Ukraine, Andriy Taran, has cautioned about Russia’s continued military buildup near the state border of Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied territories. He believes that Russia is preparing for renewed offensive actions, heavy shelling, and attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, as observed in the recent past. "We shouldn’t expect any leniency from the Russian Federation. Their goal remains the same – to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people and force us to submit," Taran said.
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Ukrainian military analysts suggest that Putin may also seek to disrupt the upcoming Ukrainian elections or create conditions to negate their validity. Russia has done this before; for instance, it invaded Georgia in 2008 during their presidential elections. As stated by Oleh Zhdanov, a Ukrainian military analyst, "Putin could try to create a state of emergency in Ukraine to prevent the democratic process."
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** 그러자, Ukrainian forces regarde Putin’s attempts to install a pro-Russian puppet government in eastern Ukraine and to create a land corridor from Russia to Crimea. This, combined with Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine, indicates Putin’s desire to control a larger part of Ukrainian territory.
- However, some Ukrainian analysts point out that Putin’s plans might not be as concrete or well-coordinated due to mounting challenges and setbacks faced by the Russian military in the conflict. The infighting within the Russian political and military elites, the potential impacts of sanctions, and the growing domestic discontent could force Putin to reassess and revise his plans.
In conclusion, based on the observations and analysis from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it is evident that Putin’s plans for Ukraine involve various objectives, ranging from reinstalling Russian influence to disrupting Ukrainian sovereignty and democratization processes. However, the success of these plans depends on numerous variables, including the Russian military’s effectiveness, the strength of the Ukrainian resistance, and geopolitical reactions to Russia’s actions.
