Putin’s intentions in Ukraine revealed by Russian offensives in key areas, main analysts say
Among the many key themes of the battle in Ukraine over latest months has been Russia’s ongoing effort to grab Pokrovsk.
Management of the town, which the Russian media name “the gateway to Donetsk”, would enable Moscow to severely disrupt Ukrainian provide strains alongside the jap entrance.
Its seize would additionally increase Russia’s marketing campaign to seize the town of Chasiv Yar, which sits on greater floor providing potential management of a wider space.
Nevertheless, the massive assets being deployed by Moscow in its makes an attempt to take management of Pokrovsk supply a sign of Vladimir Putin’s intentions in Ukraine, based on analysts at main US assume tank the Institute for the Examine of Conflict.
It says Russian forces are at present pursuing three distinct tactical targets within the Pokrovsk route, however that Ukrainian drone operations and localised counterattacks are persevering with to complicate their advances within the space.
“Russian forces have spent the final 13 months and misplaced over 5 divisions’ price of tanks and hundreds of troops attacking in direction of Pokrovsk and attempting to grab the city,” the group stated.
They stated the Russian offensive operations “spotlight Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dedication to grab all of Ukraine by way of army means at no matter value if he can not achieve this by way of negotiations”.
“Future Russian assaults on and into Pokrovsk… would solely generate higher manpower and materiel losses if the Russian army is even able to conducting such operations after having suffered vital armoured automobile and personnel losses over the past three years of combating,” the analysts added.
ISW stated Russian commanders had been doubtless keen to undertake these long-term operations “as a result of they’re working below the belief or with direct information that Putin doesn’t intend to finish the battle in Ukraine within the close to future”.
“Putin has beforehand articulated a principle of victory that assumes that the Russian army will be capable to proceed gradual, creeping advances in Ukraine indefinitely and has repeatedly indicated that he has no real interest in a decision of the battle on any phrases however these he dictates,” they continued.
“The US Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence’s (ODNI) 2025 Annual Menace Evaluation assessed in March 2025 that Putin stays dedicated to pursuing Ukrainian give up by way of each diplomatic and army means.
“ISW continues to evaluate that Putin has no real interest in ending the battle and intends to proceed combating till he accomplishes his targets in Ukraine, that are the toppling of the present Ukrainian authorities and the specific destruction of the Ukrainian army.”