The Ukrainian Army in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions are bracing for fresh Russian assaults in the coming weeks and expect Moscow to redeploy its battle-hardened units from Kursk in these vital positions. Ukraine has reasons to believe this fresh Russian offense may last as long as nine months if a ceasefire deal is not leaked.
Ukrainian officers are concerned about the arrival of Russian soldiers who have fought in Kursk, media reports claimed, as these units are ruthless, experienced and energetic following successful campaigns in the region.
Meanwhile, media reports quoted Ukrainian sources as saying that a Russian troop buildup near Selydove in Donetsk Oblast was confirmed through a radio interception. More armoured vehicles, drones and units were being summoned in the region, hinting at an imminent Russian push.
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Zaporizhia is a city in southeastern Ukraine while Sumy is in northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian commanders fear that the upcoming offensive may force them to press more men into these regions, leaving other fronts vulnerable. If Vladimir Putin is planning a large-scale spring offensive, the present defenders will require reinforcements, they believe. Kyiv is aware that Russia is likely to launch a fresh offensive in the coming weeks to strengthen its position on the negotiation table.
If the Russian army is preparing for a long war like Kyiv belives, lasting at least six months, then 2025 is going to be another blood-soaked year in the battlefronts.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
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Russia's Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, said its air defence systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. Both sides have accused one another in recent days of violating a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire, and Russia has continued sending regular swarms of drones over Ukraine. In his nightly video address on Saturday, just as the Kharkiv attack was unfolding, Volodymir Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected a "serious response" from Western countries to the nearly daily attacks. "Our partners must understand that these Russian strikes target not only our people, but also all international efforts, diplomatic efforts aimed at ending this war," he said