“The Russian Federation plans to take control of Donbas and the Zaporizhia region in 2026 — Budanov”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: Budanov in an interview with Suspilno
Direct speech: “They (the goals of the Russians for the near term – ed.) are clearly outlined in their military planning. This is an effort to gain full control over the Donetsk region, the maximum advance in the Dnipropetrovsk region and the continuation of operations in the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
Advertising:
They never hid it. These are the main tasks, along with increasing the size of sanitary (or buffer) zones along the border. These are their main tasks. In principle, the task of the 26th year is the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia region.”
Details: When asked whether the entire Zaporizhzhia region is meant, Budanov said: “This is their dream.”
He also reported that the mobilization plan for 2025 in Russia was 403 thousand people, and the occupiers fulfilled it at the beginning of December. Thus, according to the head of GUR, by the end of the year they will fulfill the plan by approximately 103%.
According to him, by 2026, the Russian Federation plans to recruit another 409,000 people into its army.
When asked how long Russia will be able to maintain its military personnel at this level, Budanov said: “I don’t want to upset you. Look at the quantitative indicators of the population and you will understand that this can, if desired, continue for a long time.”
He believes that the aggressor country has “enough” financial opportunities for this. He emphasized that the main source of replenishment of the Russian army is contract workers.
Regarding the contract recruitment of people from the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, the head of the GUR stated that “all plans for the selection of people from the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea, parts of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Luhansk and Donetsk regions have been 100% fulfilled.”
At the same time, Budanov believes that Russia’s economic difficulties will not affect the battlefield, but “one hundred percent will affect their position on ending the war.”
He also explained his words from one of the recent interviews that the window for reaching a peace agreement will appear in February.
“Accordingly, this is the most favorable period for both Russia and Ukraine to achieve something. This is related to military activity, the heating season, and so on. A lot of things,” said Budanov.