Camilla Jessen
Despite mounting international pressure for a 30-day truce, Moscow is pushing forward with intensified troop movements.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a major new offensive in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence cited by the Financial Times and Kyiv Independent.
As Western leaders continue to push for a 30-day ceasefire, the Kremlin is instead escalating military operations—deploying fresh troops and elite units to key sectors along the front line.
Ukraine’s military reports 163 clashes in just 24 hours, a clear sign that Russia is not dialing down aggression but ramping it up.
“The offensive on the Sumy and Kharkiv regions has already begun,” said General Oleksandr Syrsky, head of the Ukrainian army.
“Since the beginning of the aggression, the enemy has increased its forces fivefold.”
“Nuances” Cloud Russian Stance on Ceasefire
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to U.S. and European ceasefire proposals by saying discussions were “impossible without addressing the nuances” surrounding the idea.
While Russia claims President Putin is open to the concept,
Peskov’s comments suggest significant conditions that remain undefined.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, warned that Europe and the U.S. are pushing hard for a clear 30-day truce, and that Russia must not exploit the idea merely for “entertainment” during public holidays like the May 9 Victory Day celebrations.
“The Russians must say yes. Not three days to entertain the gallery… No, 30 days,” Macron stated.
Elite Forces Mobilized for Donetsk Breakthrough
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russian troops are concentrating efforts in the Donetsk region, where they are attempting to capture Chasiv Yar, a strategically critical town west of the long-contested city of Bakhmut.
Russian forces have deployed the Presidential Regiment of the FSB—an elite internal security unit typically reserved for protecting the Kremlin—to storm Chasiv Yar.
Control of this town would open a path toward Kramatorsk, a key Ukrainian military command center located just 25 kilometers away.
“The loss of Kramatorsk would practically mean the fall of the entire Donetsk region,” General Syrsky warned.
DeepState, a group closely monitoring frontline developments, also reported recent Russian advances near Toretsk and Pokrovsk—both pivotal locations in the region’s defense.
Russia Preparing for Negotiations Through Force
Ukrainian officials believe the Kremlin’s strategy is to gain as much territory as possible before entering any future peace negotiations, strengthening Russia’s hand at the table. This offensive is seen as a calculated push to redraw the front lines in Moscow’s favor.
According to General Syrsky, Russia’s manpower in Ukraine has increased dramatically:
- January 1, 2025: 603,000 Russian troops
- Now: 623,000 troops
- Monthly increase: 8,000–9,000 soldiers
As troop buildups intensify, European and American officials are warning of new economic sanctions if Russia refuses to comply with ceasefire demands.