Ukrainian forces will enter Crimea with weapons in hand.

Ukraine expects no significant changes along the front line soon, even after Russia’s recent mobilization, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Liga.net. “Russia is now at a dead end,” Budanov said. Russia’s attempts to advance are concentrated near Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, and areas toward the city of Zaporizhzhia in the south and have met with no success, he said. Budanov reiterated that Ukraine aims to restore control over all its territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Crimea will be regained using both force and diplomacy, he added. As recently stated by President Zelenskyy’s office, Ukraine plans no negotiation with Russia and the return of all occupied territories, including the Crimea peninsula.