Ukraine looks to end ‘active’ phase of war ahead of winter months

Ukraine is looking to end the “active phase” in the war against Russia ahead of the winter months amid fears Moscow could target its thermal infrastructure as temperatures drop, one top official said Wednesday. 

“The Russian army continues to attack our infrastructure facilities. This is one of their goals, they don’t even hide it,” head of the President’s Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak told Interfax. “This is one of the reasons why we want to take maximum measures to end the active part of the war before the end of autumn.”

RUSSIA CREATES NEW VOLUNTEER GROUND FORCE AS TROOP NUMBERS FLAG, UK INTELLIGENCE QUESTIONS EFFECTIVENESS

The official did not say what would need to happen in order to end the “active phase,” but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said Ukraine will not stop fighting until Russia withdraws its forces. 

Since invading in February, Russia has made slow advances across eastern and southern Ukraine and Western defense officials have assessed that its forces largely occupy the Luhansk region.

RUSSIA USING 85% OF FIGHTING FORCE IN UKRAINE: SENIOR US DEFENSE OFFICIAL

Russia has threatened to annex regions of Ukraine in a move that echoes steps it took in 2014 when it occupied Crimea.  But recent advances made by Ukrainian forces could circumvent these ambitions. 

Ukrainian forces have begun to make some gradual gains in the southern region of Kherson and the northern region of Kharkiv – both of which have seen varying levels of Russian occupation since the early days of the war. 

But intense fighting continues throughout the Donbas with seemingly little Ukrainian advancement as of yet. 

Yermak noted the importance of quickly repelling Russian forces from occupied areas and said the longer they are able to remain in an area the easier it is for Moscow to dig in. 

“We are doing everything to ensure that the goal of de-occupation is achieved,” he added noting dialogue he has had with Western allies. “They share our position.”