Russia will intensify assaults in several directions ahead of May 15 – military expert Sniehyrov

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"Now Russia will most likely step up active combat along the front line. We're talking primarily about the Novopavlivka and Pokrovsk directions. Their strategic goal is to reach the administrative borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region. If that scenario plays out, though I hope it won’t happen on May 15, it would be used by Russia as a tool of military and political pressure on both Ukraine and the United States. In particular, Russia appears capable of expanding the warfront into other parts of Ukraine. Mainly the Dnipropetrovsk region, and also Sumy," Sniehyrov explained.

The expert stressed that Russian forces are trying to punch through Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk direction to reach the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka highway.

"So, in my view, by May 15 we should expect serious pressure from Russian troops in the Kostiantynopol–Bohatyr–Rozlyv area. At the same time, they will keep pushing to break Ukrainian defense lines in the Pokrovsk direction, aiming to gain access to the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka highway. This could set the stage for a possible operational encirclement of Ukrainian units in the Pokrovsk area and an attempt to push straight toward Kostiantynivka," he added.

• On May 11, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed he was allegedly ready for direct talks with the Ukrainian side in Turkey next week. At the same time, he dismissed the idea of a 30-day ceasefire.