(KYIV) – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that for the Russian military to fully conquer the entire eastern region of Ukraine, it will cost the Russian dictator at least another 800,000 lives. These casualties would consist of the soldiers belonging to the Russian dictator himself.
The current reality of the conflict is shaped by the fact that Russia cannot take the Donbas region on the battlefield. According to the leadership in Kyiv, Moscow would require several years and hundreds of thousands of additional casualties just to seize the remaining parts of the region. Even with such a sacrifice, success for the Kremlin is far from guaranteed. Russian offensives have slowed to a grinding crawl, gaining only metres at an enormous cost in human life, while Ukraine continues to hold key defensive lines.
For the government in Kyiv, even freezing the current front is already seen as a painful concession rather than a step towards surrender. Because the Russian military is unable to achieve decisive breakthroughs against Ukrainian defences, the Russian dictator has increasingly shifted pressure away from the front and onto Ukrainian cities. Missile and drone strikes against civilian infrastructure are not random acts of terror but are part of a deliberate strategy. This approach is designed to break morale and force political concessions that Russian forces cannot secure through combat.
The message from Moscow is clear. If it cannot capture Donbas by force of arms, it will try to pressure Ukraine into accepting loss through fear and exhaustion. However, after years of war, Kyiv shows no sign of surrendering territory simply because it is being targeted from the sky. President Zelenskyy noted that Russia would need at least two years to seize Donbas and expressed doubt that the regime would last that long. He stated that such an attempt would cost the Russian dictator another 800,000 dead soldiers and that any advance would be slow.
President Zelenskyy added that freezing the front line is already a substantial concession by Ukraine. Regarding negotiations over territories, particularly Donbas, the Russians are demanding that Ukraine withdraw from areas they have not yet managed to conquer, such as parts of Donetsk. The President confirmed this is a red line and that Ukraine will not retreat or abandon Donetsk.
The Russian dictator seeks a total Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas because the Kremlin has not achieved a single victory since the moment they began this war. The Ukrainian people understand the immense price every single metre and kilometre of this land is costing the Russian military. While the Kremlin does not count the lives of those who perish, Ukraine is compelled to do so.
President Zelenskyy believes it will take the Russian military at least two full years to progress, even at a slow rate. He expressed his personal opinion that the Russian forces will be unable to hold out for that duration. When asked about specific concessions, he faced the reality that freezing the front line and maintaining current positions would already be a very substantial sacrifice from the Ukrainian side.
Some international observers are now proposing that Ukraine operate as if they are selecting a meal from a restaurant menu. President Zelenskyy rejected this, stating it is not the truth and that concessions must come from both involved parties. The Russians are in need of a pause because they are facing the same economic and manpower problems mentioned previously.
In the event of an economic zone or a demilitarised zone, both Ukrainian and Russian forces would be required to withdraw. Ukraine would control its own section, Russia would control theirs, and an international demarcation force with an international presence would be needed between them.
Meanwhile, the cowardly tactics of the Russian dictator, backed by his nuclear arsenal, sheer incompetence, and the unpredictable politics of Donald Trump, are reaching a new level. Moscow believes that the recognition of Donbas as part of Russia by all countries should be part of a major agreement. A Western source close to talks in Abu Dhabi indicated that Russia sees the international recognition of Donbas as crucial. These trilateral security consultations involved Russia, the United States, and Ukraine.
Simultaneously, the Russian dictator continues to arm allies in the Middle East. Reports suggest Iran may have received Russian made Mi 28 NE attack helicopters ordered in 2023. Open source materials, including a video of a helicopter over Tehran, have circulated, though it is currently impossible to confirm the exact location or if the aircraft belongs to another operator like Iraq or Algeria. Photographs of an Mi 28 in desert camouflage taken inside a hanger appeared in late January, possibly at a facility belonging to the Iranian company Pars Aerospace Services Company. This company is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and is subject to international sanctions.
Contradictions exist regarding these images, as the geometry of the hanger does not match satellite imagery of known Iranian facilities. It is possible the photographs were taken on Russian territory. However, Iranian journalists affiliated with the Tasnim news agency have claimed the Mi 28 is officially in service. This potential acquisition follows increased activity by Russian transport aviation to Tehran.
The Mi 28 NE is the export version of the Russian attack helicopter, equipped with mast mounted radar, thermal imaging, and laser rangefinders. The cockpits are armoured and the rotor blades are designed to withstand hits from small calibre rounds. It features electronic countermeasures and a 30 mm automatic cannon, alongside Ataka or Khrizantema anti tank missiles. This version is adapted to specific customer requirements for avionics and weapon systems.
