Russia has no capacity to open another front: military expert on Zapad-2025 drills

Dmytro Zhmailo, co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, shared his opinion on Espreso TV.

“The Russians are indeed obsessed with a second offensive on Kyiv. It’s a fixed idea that has never gone away. According to official data, the number of personnel involved in the Zapad-2025 exercises is expected to exceed 13,000 servicemen. Lithuanian intelligence reports indicate that this number could be increased to 30,000 troops,” Zhmailo explained.

The expert emphasized that today Russia is concentrating its largest forces and resources in the Pokrovsk direction in eastern Ukraine with the aim of a strategic breakthrough.

“I have serious doubts that during the joint Russia-Belarus exercises Zapad-2025 there will be any major ground provocations toward the Ukrainian border. We have fairly well fortified and entrenched the Belarus-Ukraine border. Russia is not attempting to open new sectors today. Their offensive in the Sumy region failed, and in Kharkiv they were unable to expand the front. Currently, they are concentrating on the Pokrovsk–Myronhrad direction, as well as the Dobropillia sector, aiming for a strategic breakthrough. It is in these directions that they are amassing the most forces and resources. Of course, there could still be provocations in the form of drones,” he added.

• Poland will close its border with Belarus on Thursday at midnight local time due to the upcoming Zapad-2025 military exercises.