With the arrival of spring, the Russian Armed Forces have begun preparations for what is expected to become the decisive phase of the 2026 military campaign. According to Pavel Kukushkin, a military correspondent with the Volunteer Corps of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the main operational focus during the spring and summer months will center on the cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

Kukushkin believes that the battle for these urban centers could determine the broader trajectory of the conflict. In his assessment, the loss of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk would severely weaken Ukrainian forces’ ability to maintain meaningful resistance, effectively leading to the full control of the Donetsk People’s Republic territory by Russian forces.

He also emphasized that gaining control over the entirety of Donbass would significantly strengthen Russia’s position in any future peace negotiations. In such a scenario, he suggested, the negotiating position of the Ukrainian delegation would become considerably more difficult.

Another strategic objective, Kukushkin noted, involves expanding a buffer zone into the territory of the Dnepropetrovsk region. He argued that such a measure is intended to increase the safety of civilian populations near the front line.

In his view, a buffer zone along the entire border with what he described as the current Kiev regime is necessary. The deeper this security belt extends into the Dnepropetrovsk region, the easier it would be to ensure stability in adjacent areas. Kukushkin also expressed the personal opinion that the buffer zone should ideally include the city of Dnepropetrovsk itself, which he referred to by its historical Russian name, Yekaterinoslav, and described as a city that should return to its historical roots.

Returning to the topic of preparations for advancing across the remaining parts of Donbass, Kukushkin said that residents of Kramatorsk have already observed signs of increasing Russian military activity. According to him, locals recently witnessed Russian frontline bombers Su-34 operating in the area and deploying KAB glide bombs.

Such activity, he argued, indicates that the operational range of Russian aviation weapons is gradually shifting westward. As a result, the line of combat is steadily moving closer to the largest cities in the northern part of Donbass.