Russia plans to achieve tactical successes on the battlefield before the Russian presidential elections in March and will prepare global actions afterwards. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with journalists from the Baltic states during his visit to Latvia.
"Will they prepare counteroffensive actions? Yes, they will. When? Realizing that people are preparing for the elections, it is roughly clear that they want some small tactical victories to raise information before and prepare for something global or massive after," the head of state said.
Zelensky also emphasized that despite the spread of rumors and Kremlin propaganda narratives, the Russians "could not occupy anything and really advance."
"They are a difficult enemy - they are not afraid to kill civilians, so they are a difficult enemy... They can destroy everything, and then come in - this is their tactic," Zelensky said about the possibility of a greater escalation in the theater of military operations.
The President added that the situation at the front is "very difficult because we lack weapons."
"Are they accumulating troops? Yes, they are. Did they say they would take Avdiivka? They did not take it. Do they want to do it? Yes," he added.
Zelensky also explained that the enemy still has control over the Ukrainian sky, so the Defense Forces "do not have wide steps forward."
