Russian army aims to capture Donetsk, Luhansk regions this winter - Ukraine's intelligence

This was announced by Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of the Defence Intelligence Service of Ukraine, at the expert discussion 'Genocidal practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: from the Holodomor to the Russian-Ukrainian war', reports Ukrinform.

Skibitskyi stressed that the strategic task of the occupying Russian army has not changed.

"This winter will mark three years of the (so-called) military operation. What was the task of the military operation? The 'liberation' of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Yes, the plans are being adjusted, but this goal has not disappeared. The strategic goal is full control over the territory of Ukraine," he added.

According to the intelligence official, the Russian army is trying to maintain the pace of the offensive by redeploying operational reserves.

They (the Russian armed forces - ed.) can regroup from one combat zone to another. Once they moved them to the Kursk region, now there are other movements, and that has an effect. They are building up operational reserves that can be used in any direction. Their task now is to maintain the pace of the offensive," Skibitskyi explained.

The deputy chief of Ukraine's military intelligence also pointed out that the Russians are conducting conscription in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. There, men can be mobilized into the enemy army, which violates international conventions.

• On November 21, Russian military managed to capture the village of Dalne in the Donetsk region.