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Russia’s military command has promised Russian leader Vladimir Putin that it will capture the Donbas by autumn, telling him that the Ukrainian army is exhausted, the front line is collapsing, and manpower is dwindling.
This was reported by the Financial Times.
According to the outlet, the plans were described by two sources who have direct contact with Putin, as well as two other individuals familiar with the situation. The assessment is also supported by Ukrainian intelligence. After potential advances in the Donbas, Putin is expected to raise the stakes in negotiations and push for broader territorial demands on Ukraine.
The FT notes that Putin has recently become increasingly focused on the Donbas, although he had previously entertained the idea of freezing the war along the current front line in private discussions.
One source told the newspaper that they had repeatedly urged Putin to agree to a ceasefire without additional demands, but he refused to compromise.
At the same time, sources say a major Russian breakthrough on the battlefield remains unlikely.
Russian advances have slowed significantly, while Ukraine continues to strike rear military infrastructure.
A serviceman of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Dmytro Putyata, said that strikes on Russian depots, logistics hubs, and troop positions are creating serious challenges for rotations and ammunition supplies.
However, FT sources claim that Putin’s strategic ambitions may extend far beyond the Donbas.
According to them, the Kremlin’s ultimate goal is to establish control over Ukraine along the Dnipro River, including capturing Kyiv and Odesa.
“They tell him that Ukrainians are fighting, but their front is collapsing and they are running out of people,” one source told the FT.
Putin himself recently hinted at expanding Russia’s territorial claims, speaking about the need to create a “buffer zone” deep inside Ukrainian territory.
Situation inside Russia
Earlier, Western media reported that Putin believes in eventual victory and is prepared to continue the war for up to two more years to gain full control over the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, claims of Russian military “successes” are increasingly being met with skepticism, even among pro-Kremlin commentators.
Russian opposition figure Garry Kasparov said that discussions about replacing Putin are becoming more frequent in Russia due to the war’s failures.
“There is a sense that something is happening. It is a Russian tradition that a bad war always leads to change. And we are now seeing such a situation,” he said.
