The Russians are intensifying their assault operations at the front, as they know that Ukraine is "on the brink" due to a lack of weapons and ammunition.
This was stated by Vadym Skybytsky, Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, in an interview with The Economist.
"Ukraine is on the brink. It's harder than ever. The Russians always knew that April and May would be a difficult time for us because we have no weapons," Skibitsky said.
According to him, the Russian offensive will begin in late May - early June.
"Russia will first continue to implement the plan to occupy Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The success of the advance will determine when and where the Russians will strike next," noted Skibitsky.
He said that Russia is preparing for an offensive around Kharkiv and Sumy regions in the northeast.
"Russia's grouping on the border with Kharkiv currently 35,000-strong but is set to expand to between 50,000 and 70,000 troops. This is not enough for an operation to capture a large city," Skibitsky said.
He also sees no way for Ukraine to win the war on the battlefield.
"Even if we manage to push the Russians back to the 1991 borders, it will not end the war. Such wars can only end with treaties. Currently, both sides are fighting for a "favorable position," and meaningful negotiations can begin no earlier than the second half of 2025," the General said.
Earlier, Apostrophe published the General Staff reports and battle maps.