Ukraine does not rule out a breakthrough in its defenses by summer
According to agency sources, Ukrainian intelligence believes that Russia maintains plans to occupy Kyiv and Odessa. The loss of Odessa for Ukraine will result in the loss of a grain export channel through the Black Sea, the source notes. In addition, the transfer of this city to the control of Moscow will give the Russian army access to the border with Moldova, where the authorities of the unrecognized Transnistria asked for help from Russia on February 28.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on February 25 that the shortage of ammunition was affecting the course of hostilities and warned of a possible Russian offensive in the spring and early summer.
According to Bloomberg, Ukraine's strategy is to try to hold the front line until the second half of the year, when it could receive F-16 fighters. Also by this time the production of Western ammunition should increase. The agency notes that the combination of these factors would allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to launch a new counter-offensive in 2025.
On February 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian troops had taken control of Avdeevka. After this, the department reported the capture of several more settlements near the city. According to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky, the stability of the defense was affected by the commanders’ miscalculations.
