Half of Ukraine at risk? ISW evaluates Russia’s plans exposed by Ukraine's Presidential Office
Photo: ISW assessed Russia's ability to seize half of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Russia is unlikely to capture half of Ukraine within a short timeframe, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This intention was recently warned about by Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
"A senior Ukrainian official reported that the Russian military intends to seize half of Ukraine by the end of 2026. Russian forces are highly unlikely to be able to make such large advances in such a narrow time frame," the ISW assessment says.
ISW based this conclusion on Russia’s current offensive capabilities and the assumption that Western aid to Ukraine will continue.
Palisa’s warning about Russia’s intentions
During a recent visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Washington, Office of the President representative Pavlo Palisa told American officials that Russia aims to capture the entire territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2025, as well as create a "buffer zone" along the northern border of Ukraine.
By the end of 2026, according to Palisa, the Russians want to seize the entire territory of Ukraine east of the Dnipro River. In addition, the enemy dreams of capturing Odesa and Mykolaiv to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea.
Palisa also explained to American officials that Russia is not preparing for peace but, on the contrary, wants the war to continue. Certain factors, as the Office representative noted, indicate this.
