Russia not planning to end war, to continue offensive operations in 2023 – intelligence

Russia does not plan to end the war and will continue offensive operations on the front in 2023.

According to Ukrinform, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said this in a post on Telegram, referring to Andrii Cherniak, a representative of the ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate.

"According to Ukraine's military intelligence, the Russians will try to continue offensive actions [this] year. They failed to achieve their goal in any of the areas. They understand that they will lose, but they do not plan to end the war. We are considering the possibility that they may attack simultaneously from the north or the east. Such actions by the enemy are expected, our troops are ready for it," he said.

According to Cherniak, the Russians will try to hold a land corridor to Crimea and seize the whole of the Donetsk region. However, in his opinion, they will not be able to cross the Dnipro River to capture Kherson again.

"According to Ukraine's military intelligence, the Russian army may lose up to 70,000 people in the next four to five months. And the leadership of the occupying country is ready for such losses," Cherniak said.

From February 24, 2022 to January 3, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 108,190 Russian soldiers, including 750 invaders on January 2.

Photo: EPA