The information published by Bild concerning Russia’s plans to occupy new Ukrainian territories during 2024-2026 corresponds with other data that has been received, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed.
As Bild writes, Russia plans to capture most of the Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, including Kharkiv, if possible, in 2025 and 2026. To achieve this goal, Putin is prepared to lose up to 100,000 troops in Ukraine each year.
At the same time, according to ISW estimates, the sudden end of Western aid will lead to the collapse of Ukraine’s ability to contain the Russian armed forces. Eventually, they will reach the western border of Ukraine. Russia will then establish military bases on the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Moscow will also increase its military presence in Belarus. This will allow Putin to create conditions for a quick attack on one or more NATO countries.