Putin is preparing to undertake a major offensive in January.

 Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that Vladimir Putin is preparing for a major new offensive in the new year, despite a series of humiliating battlefield setbacks for Russia in recent months. In an interview with the Guardian Reznikov said that while Ukraine could successfully defend itself against Russia’s missile attacks targeting critical infrastructure, evidence was emerging that the Kremlin is preparing a broad new offensive. While Reznikov suggested a new offensive could happen by February, the other senior officials indicated they believed it might come as early as January. According to Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, the Russians are training about 200,000 fresh soldiers. “I have no doubt that there will be another attempt to attack Kyiv,” Zaluzhny added. Russia continues to mobilize its citizens beyond the current partial mobilization, hoping they will overwhelm the smaller Ukrainian force.