The publication noted that currently Ukraine controls just under one-fifth of the Donetsk region. According to journalists, the question is not whether Russia is capable of capturing this territory, but when it will happen. According to intelligence cited by the publication, this could occur as early as 2027. However, it is noted that the cost of this capture could be enormous. According to the publication, Russia has already lost about 1.4 million soldiers, including 450 killed and nearly a million wounded. Analysts believe that the announcement of mobilization could help Russia deploy its troops to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. It is noted that the Russian General Staff expects to replenish the army four months after the start of mobilization. Experts believe that a key strategy for Russia may be an attempt to disrupt Ukrainian logistics in these cities, which would significantly shorten the time during which the Ukrainian Defense Forces can hold these settlements. According to experts cited by the publication, the Kremlin is unlikely to engage in serious negotiations to end the war until the complete capture of Donbass. At the same time, experts noted that this region may only be an intermediate goal. "Donbass is an intermediate, not a final goal. Russia's objective remains to draw Ukraine into its sphere of influence; according to Ukrainian intelligence, plans for further actions regarding Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa already exist, although without specific dates," said military analyst Franz-Stefan Gadi.
