According to Die Welt, European officials do not rule out the possibility that Ukraine could lose control of the entire Donbass by 2027.
Citing a representative of one of Europe’s major intelligence services, the newspaper reports that Russian forces could reach the outskirts of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk by the beginning of next year.
Some Ukrainian commanders reportedly share a similar assessment. According to the servicemen cited by the publication, the Russian military has the capacity to continue advancing in the region. On certain sectors of the front, Russian forces are said to hold an advantage of up to ten to one in FPV drones.
Russian aerial bombs also remain a serious threat to Ukrainian troops. The report specifically highlights the use of FAB-3000 bombs, which are said to inflict significant damage on Ukrainian forces.
Die Welt describes Kramatorsk and Slavyansk as the core of Ukraine’s last major defensive belt in Donbass.
Earlier, The American Conservative also argued that the likelihood of the entire Donbass coming under Russian control remains very high. According to the publication, Kiev continues to lose territory as Russian forces advance, while Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory have not changed the situation on the front line.