Russia set to escalate conflict
VLADIMIR Putin believes he will win his war on Ukraine and will escalate the invasion despite horrific losses among Russian forces, experts fear.
As Ukraine reels from another wave of missiles attacks across the eastern front, an intelligence assessment has concluded that Putin is not deterred by the supply of weapons from the West.
The report, seen exclusively by the Mirror, says: “Despite Putin’s lack of progress, he shows no signs of intending to stop, find a way out, or make credible peace proposals.
“There are no grounds thinking that Putin will give up his intention to extinguish
Ukraine as a viable independent, democratic nation. In fact, there are all the signs that Putin will escalate the fighting on all fronts irrespective of what the West does.” Ukraine claims Russia has lost 128,420 troops so far.
And Kyiv now expects Moscow to “attempt something” to mark the first anniversary of the invasion on February 24, with Putin poised to deploy 300,000 new recruits as cannon fodder, and send a further half a million within months.
The report suggests Ukraine’s “tactical superiority” is being “countered by Russia’s troop numbers and readiness to accept mass casualties”. It said scattered Russian victories were driven by Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s “political ambitions”, and opportunities to make money by “looting” and “making deals in occupied territories”.
But it warns an increase in Russian weapons supplies means by 2024 the West may face a “formidable Russian army”. Putin thinks his war can outlive support for Kyiv and the West will “cut and run as it did in Afghanistan”.
“Putin continues to believe he can win by demonstrating to Ukraine’s Western allies that Ukraine is more important to him than it is to them,” the report adds.
Russian missiles hit residential areas in Kramatorsk for the second time in 24 hours yesterday as top EU officials held talks with the government in Kyiv.
There are no grounds for thinking Putin will give up his bid to extinguish Ukraine INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT ON WAR AGAINST UKRAINE