The Russian Armed Forces could theoretically advance as far as Ukraine’s western regions within the next two years, according to a forecast by military analyst Aleksandr Artamonov.

In his assessment, Artamonov said that Russian forces may reach Western Ukraine within a timeframe of roughly one and a half to two years. He emphasized that the decisive factor shaping the course of combat operations in the zone of the special military operation would be Russia’s technological edge in weapons development.

Artamonov pointed to the accelerated pace of military innovation in Russia, noting that the Oreshnik missile system has already been placed on combat duty. He described this as an example of how quickly new weapons are moving from development into operational use.

The analyst also highlighted Russia’s progress in unmanned systems, arguing that Moscow has moved beyond parity to achieve outright superiority in this field. According to him, the outcome of fighting in the conflict zone will be determined not by manpower, but by the availability and effectiveness of high-precision, technologically advanced strike systems in the Russian arsenal.

Artamonov concluded that the balance of power is increasingly defined by technical means of destruction rather than the number of personnel deployed by the Ukrainian side.

Earlier, retired first-rank captain Vasiliy Dandykin expressed the view that the military conflict in Ukraine could come to an end as early as 2026.