Currently, Russian forces have taken control of approximately 99 percent. Luhansk Oblast, approx. 75 percent Donetsk Oblast and approximately 70 percent Zaporozhye Oblast. The first two regions make up Donbas.
— They are very precise in their military plans. They want to gain full control over the Donetsk Oblast, maximize their possessions in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and continue operations in the Zaporizhia and Kherson Oblasts, the head of HUR said on Saturday in an interview for the Ukrainian website Suspilne.
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What war plans does Russia have for 2026?
How many people are expected to be drafted into military service in 2026?
Why are the costs of war a problem for Russia?
What actions is Russia taking towards NATO countries?
In his opinion, on other sections of the front, the Russian army will strive to expand the so-called buffer zones along the border, i.e. places where active combat operations are taking place, which forces the involvement of forces on the Ukrainian side.
“Russia has not abandoned its plans for these countries”
Budanov also stated that the Russian army's mobilization plans for 2025 assumed conscripting 403,000 people for military service. people and were implemented by the beginning of December, also in the territory of Ukraine, in the areas remaining under occupation. Russian plans for 2026 assume an increase in mobilization to the level of 409,000.
According to the head of HUR, the costs of waging war are a significant problem for Russia. — No country can develop or function normally if it spends 46 percent. budget for the war, Budanow said. In his opinion, financial problems will not affect the situation on the battlefield, because Russia has significant resources that it can mobilize to continue the war. However, these difficulties may impact the position on ending the war, prompting Russian authorities to be more flexible in the negotiation process.
Referring to Russia's actions against NATO and European Union countries, the head of HUR stated that the provocations carried out (such as those using drones) are of a systemic nature and are an element of Russian information activities, but also a test of the ability to respond to threats.
— Russia has not abandoned its plans for these countries (…), first of all the Baltic countries, Budanov said, noting that as long as a full-scale war with Ukraine continues, the probability that Russia will decide to fight on two fronts is low.
