Russia prepares its 'final push' of the war this fall
In Kyiv and the capitals of its allies, talk of a brutal "winter" awaiting Ukraine because of Russian strikes is a top matter on the agenda. And it's quite likely that this very fall and winter will become Russia's own kind of "last push" — an attempt to somehow turn the tide of its war. Back at the start of the year, I said that in 2026 the Kremlin would find it absolutely essential to achieve…
KYIV AND ALLIES PREPARE FOR RUSSIAN FINAL PUSH IN WAR
Russian officials and their allies in Kyiv are discussing the potential for a brutal winter in Ukraine due to Russian strikes. This fall may mark Russia's final push to turn the tide of the ongoing war. The Kremlin aims to achieve a fundamental turning point in the conflict by 2026, but so far, its strategy of attrition has proven unsuccessful. Internal issues within Russia, such as negative processes and the failure to cut off Ukraine's international support, also contribute to the Kremlin's need for a new strategy.
The Kremlin faces a choice: either accept a natural fade and settle for whatever it has already gained, or attempt another round of intensified efforts to force Ukraine out of the war quickly. Recent actions and rhetoric suggest that the choice has been made, and option two appears to be the course of action. This likely involves another round of mobilization, operational buildup of Russian forces inside Ukraine, and a ramping-up of long-range strikes against Ukraine's Armed Forces.
The goal is to significantly degrade Ukraine's capacity to resist through continuous, massed, combined long-range strikes.
To achieve this, the Kremlin will likely need to reduce market relations within its own economy and increase state monopolization. Socially, turning Russia into a single military camp while suppressing opposition is becoming essential. Elections will be held in a controlled manner, and information-psychological pressure will be intensified on the Russian population. On the international front, the Kremlin will try to minimize or block any effective assistance to Ukraine, particularly military-technical and financial aid.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
