The next target of the Russian occupation forces in Ukraine may be the city of Zaporizhzhia.
This is reported by The Economist, citing a senior Ukrainian official. It is noted that Russian troops are already concentrating their forces for a possible offensive in that direction.
According to the same source, Russia may have already regained control over up to half of the territories that Ukraine captured in the Kursk region during the counteroffensive in August 2024. This has been the only significant advancement of Ukrainian forces following the complex and partially unsuccessful counteroffensive of 2023.
Russian forces continue to advance on multiple fronts simultaneously, attacking along a 1,000-kilometer front line. Despite significant losses, estimated by American military officials to be up to 600,000 killed and wounded soldiers, Russia continues to engage in active combat operations. One of the key strategic locations remains Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, an important logistics hub that Russian troops are attempting to encircle. At the same time, fighting continues for the heights around Vuhledar in the south, which increases the threat to Ukrainian forces.
However, Ukraine is currently concerned not only about the events on the front. Recently, support from the West has become increasingly shaky. There are also growing fears that political changes in the U.S. could significantly impact future support.
Donald Trump's victory in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, just two weeks away, could significantly reduce military aid to Ukraine. If Kamala Harris wins, the scenario also does not promise significant improvements for Ukraine, as domestic issues and economic concerns in the U.S. will dominate the political agenda.
An additional challenge is the decreasing willingness of other key partners to continue their support for Ukraine. Germany, the second-largest donor after the U.S., has already stated that aid volumes will decrease in the future. France has also indicated that its support may be reconsidered.
Source: economist.