For the 17th or 18th time, Putin promised to take Donetsk “in a few months” – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy says Russia has spent nearly five years trying to seize Donetsk, suffering nearly 249,000 troops killed or severely wounded this year for only slightly more than 1,000 square kilometers of territorial gains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed UN officials that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the promise to take Donetsk "in a few months" for the 17th or 18th time. Zelenskyy made this claim during his address to the UN General Assembly on September 24th, noting that Russia has been attempting to seize the region for nearly five years.
He highlighted the discrepancy between Putin's promises, which always push the deadline further back, and Russia's actual battlefield performance, which has suffered significant losses while only capturing a small fraction of the territory Putin claims. Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is paying a heavy price for its ongoing offensive, with an estimated 248,964 troops killed or severely wounded between January and August 2026.
He also pointed out that Ukraine had already liberated a significant portion of the territory Russia claimed to have taken this year. Zelenskyy's comments came as Ukraine was launching Operation Vivaldi to retake ground near Lyman, disrupting Russia's plan to encircle Donetsk. The offensive has already seen success, with Ukrainian forces retaking several settlements and clearing up to 125 square kilometers of territory.
However, Zelenskyy warned that Russia's ambitions extend beyond Donetsk, with Russia continuing to threaten other Ukrainian cities such as Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. He also noted Russia's relentless missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, which have resulted in over 2,100 missile strikes and 63,000 attack drone strikes over the past eight months.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy highlighted North Korea's involvement in the war, noting that North Korean troops have suffered heavy losses while gaining battlefield experience alongside Russian forces. He also mentioned that North Korea's military capabilities have been enhanced through its cooperation with Russia. Zelenskyy concluded by calling for de-escalation before the winter, warning that Russia could again target Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure, exacerbating the suffering of both Ukrainians and Russians.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
