Russia eyes bloodless takeover of Donetsk region through economic zone ploy — SBU colonel

Roman Kostenko, Ukrainian lawmaker, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, and SBU Colonel, stated this on Espreso TV.

"As soon as a scenario for a buffer economic zone in the Donetsk region is signed, it will mean this is a disguised transfer of these territories to Russia. Believe me, Russia will find a way to enter and take these territories. In 2025, after losing colossal amounts of resources, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of units of equipment, Russia captured 16% of the Donetsk region with its nearly million-strong army.

And today is already the 1,419th day of the war. By this time, World War II had already ended. Yet here the Russians have captured 16% of the region in a year of war," Kostenko emphasized.

According to the SBU colonel, more than 20% of Donetsk region's territory remains unoccupied. The Russians aim to take this 20% without a fight, without losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of units of equipment, under the cover of deception through this so-called economic zone. The resources freed up this way, the invaders plan to redirect to southern Ukraine or other directions, including the Baltic states.

"In other words, it's a deception. If we fall for it, it will mean handing over territories to Russia, and then fighting on another front. It's not certain that the Russian forces are even capable of capturing what remains of the Donetsk region. They want to take it just like that," Kostenko added.

• Since the beginning of Monday, January 12, 78 combat clashes have been recorded at the front. The Russian army is attacking most heavily in the Huliaipole and Pokrovsk directions.