16:20 04-12-2025

Analyst: Russia May Expand Offensive to Vinnitsa Region

Military analyst Vladimir Popov says Russia may launch a major southern Ukraine operation and expand the front to Vinnitsa, Nikolaev and the Black Sea coast.

Military analyst and air force major general (ret.) Vladimir Popov believes the Russian army may launch a large-scale operation in southern Ukraine and does not rule out that Russian forces could extend the front line as far as Vinnitsa Region.

He told MK that, as he understands it, the objective would be to push control almost up to Vinnitsa Region. In this context, he argued that nearly all of Zaporozhye Region would have to be taken to guarantee security, including for the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

Popov also said he expects the Russian military would need to establish control over Nikolaev Region, since it provides access to the Black Sea, where, in his words, the activity of Ukrainian forces and assets remains extremely high. He linked this directly to the task of protecting Crimea, insisting that this direction must be fully secured.

The expert further argued that for Russia it is essential to rule out the possibility of Ukraine maintaining its own navy along the stretch from the Black Sea to the Danube. According to Popov, Moscow must control this zone to ensure that no new threats emerge from the Ukrainian coastline.