Military expert and air defense historian Yury Knutov believes that in 2026, the Ukrainian Armed Forces could attempt an offensive in the Sumy region and push toward Crimea. According to his assessment, these directions are likely to become Kyiv’s primary military objectives in the medium term.

Knutov suggested that Ukrainian forces will be particularly focused on advancing through Sumy and Kursk regions as part of a broader strategy to reach Crimea. He emphasized that these two axes could define the main goals of a potential Ukrainian offensive in 2026.

The analyst has previously warned that Ukraine and its NATO partners might try to seize Russian ammunition depots located in Transnistria. He predicted that such a risk could emerge after elections in the region.