{"id":122504,"date":"2023-12-17T12:19:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T12:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=122504"},"modified":"2023-12-17T12:19:21","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T12:19:21","slug":"russia-plotting-ukraine-war-expansion-to-deliver-on-putins-imperial-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/world-news\/russia-plotting-ukraine-war-expansion-to-deliver-on-putins-imperial-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia plotting Ukraine war ‘expansion’ to deliver on Putin’s imperial plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russian ammunition base hit by Ukraine with huge blast<\/h3>\n

Russia has drafted a new war strategy “in line” with the Kremlin’s plan for a long-term conflict with Ukraine, a recently released report has shown.<\/p>\n

The invasion will enter its second year in February 2024, leaving both Moscow and Kyiv struggling under the pressure of the war effort and heavy losses.<\/p>\n

German media has been reporting on Russia’s plans for the coming year, with sources claiming the Russian Army is strategising to “occupy Ukrainian territory beyond the four (illegally) annexed Ukrainian oblasts throughout 2024-2026.”<\/p>\n

Russia unilaterally annexed the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in September 2022 following a sham referendum.<\/p>\n

According to BILD, Moscow will be expanding its war efforts to completely annex the whole territories of Donetsk and Luhansk before then advancing into the Kharkiv region before the end of 2024.<\/p>\n

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Reviewing the claims, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “Russia’s reported plans for the war in Ukraine through 2026 are in line with continued Russian preparations for a prolonged war effort.<\/p>\n

“The Russian military command is pursuing long-term restructuring and expansion efforts to form strategic reserves, and Russia has been gradually mobilising its DIB to sustain a long war.”<\/p>\n

They argued Vladimir Putin has turned to a more “expansionistic rhetoric” in recent times, demanding Ukrainian forces leave what he called “Russian territory.”<\/p>\n

The ISW added: “Russia’s reported medium to long-term plans to occupy territory beyond the four (illegally) annexed territories are also plausible considering that Russian officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have reverted to expansionist rhetoric recently, and Russian forces continue offensive operations to expand their positions in Kharkiv Oblast.<\/p>\n

“Russian officials have issued statements about Russia’s intention to occupy and annex additional Ukrainian territory beyond the current front lines and the four (illegally) annexed territories.”<\/p>\n

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