Russia has revised its Ukraine war strategy to focus on taking control of the Donbas and other regions in eastern Ukraine with a target date of May 9.
Source: The US and European officials
For more than a month of the war, Russian ground forces have been unable to retain control of the areas where they have been fighting.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin is under pressure to demonstrate he can show a victory, and eastern Ukraine is where he is most likely to achieve that. Putin is focused on May 9, Russia’s “Victory Day.” ”
“Putin will have a victory parade on 9 May regardless of the status of the war or peace talks,” a European defense official said. “On the other hand: a victory parade with what troops and vehicles?”
Any deadlines Moscow may set rhetorically don’t change the reality on the ground that Russia appears to be preparing for the prospect of an extended conflict like it was in Chechnya.
See also: Russian invaders set up a specialized market of looted Ukrainian goods in Belarus
