Zelenskyy warns of a major Putin offensive: Zhdanov explains everything known about the situation
What the enemy is capable of, when they might launch an offensive, and which cities are at risk.
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Zelenskyy warned of Putin's major offensive / Photo: TSN.ua
Vladimir Putin is preparing a maximum offensive on Ukrainian territory in the coming months, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia, he said, is planning offensive actions in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy directions, as well as in the east.
Military expert Oleh Zhdanov told in a comment to the TSN.ua about what the enemy is capable of, when they might launch an offensive, and which cities are under threat.
In his view, this is more of a political statement than a military one.
“Because the President needs to show our partners, especially the United States, that the threat of a Russian troop offensive hasn’t gone away and could emerge at any moment,” Oleh Zhdanov said.
However, according to the expert, Russia currently lacks the real capability to carry out a large-scale offensive, especially across multiple fronts.
“They are conducting offensive actions today, but no longer with the intensity they had last summer - a year ago,” Oleh Zhdanov believes.
Threat to Sumy region
Near the Sumy region, Russia is concentrating units that participated in the Kursk operation, the “Siversk” Operational-Tactical Group reports.
At the same time, according to Oleh Zhdanov, the threat to the Sumy region is currently minimal.
“The Russians have hit the limit of their capabilities in Sumy and Kursk regions. Today, as President Zelenskyy has already stated, there is no question of withdrawing our troops from the Kursk region. We’ve withdrawn some forces, the front has shrunk, we’ve ensured troop density, and now we’re talking about creating a solid defensive line in the Kursk region and transitioning to a deep, strategic defense. But we will continue to hold Russian territory, at least in the Kursk region,” Oleh Zhdanov said.
In the Sumy region, there are incursions by individual enemy groups to a depth of one to three kilometers. However, there is no large-scale penetration into Ukrainian territory with significant forces and resources at this time, the military expert assures.
“They are trying. Nevertheless, even our General Staff says that we are restoring logistics in this region and trying to stabilize the situation regarding the defense of these lines,” Oleh Zhdanov noted.
What Putin wants
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address that Putin wants to advance to maximize pressure on Ukraine and issue ultimatums from a position of strength.
According to Oleh Zhdanov, the Russian dictator will keep fighting endlessly - until the “Russians run out.”
“Today, irreversible processes have begun in Russia, and Putin’s power relies solely on waging war. If he stops the fighting, other processes will begin, demanding answers. Awkward questions will arise for Putin about the situation inside Russia itself. Today, everything can be blamed on the war. But if the fighting stops tomorrow, there will be no war to blame. And he’ll have to answer - why the inflation, why the prices, why so many deaths, why the economy is producing tanks but there’s not enough food for the population?” Oleh Zhdanov said.
According to him, war is power for Putin today. The Kremlin leader has not changed his demands since the start of the full-scale invasion, though the wording has shifted.
“Denazification and demilitarization are no longer mentioned. Today, the demand is a neutral status. And that implies not joining any organizations. Why would a neutral country need a large army? Hence, a reduction of the armed forces. Plus, recognition of territories. The rhetoric has changed. But how can we recognize these territories? Do we need to rewrite the Constitution? That’s impossible. So Putin’s demands haven’t changed,” Oleh Zhdanov said.
At the same time, Russia currently lacks the capacity for a large-scale offensive, the expert believes.
However, a temporary 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump could, in Oleh Zhdanov’s opinion, help Putin accumulate forces and resources.
“Why is this bad for us? Because, given the capabilities of Russia’s mobilization system and military-industrial complex, in 30 days we could face an additional general military army of at least 40,000 troops. And this army could be redeployed to a specific operational direction, where it would significantly impact the battlefield situation. Because 40,000 is not a brigade or a battalion - it’s a very substantial military force,” the military expert believes.
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