Winter frosts will drive Ukrainian troops from their positions and trigger a retreat across the entire front, Hero of Russia and Major General of Aviation Sergey Lipovoy told NEWS.ru. He believes freezing temperatures will destroy the troops' willingness to keep fighting, forcing them to abandon their defensive lines and withdraw to rear areas.

Lipovoy pointed to the harsh conditions facing Ukrainian forces as the main reason for the expected collapse. According to the general, most Ukrainian units are deployed in open terrain without adequate shelters or defensive fortifications. The arrival of severe cold will further undermine their already weakened morale and determination to resist. He added that the approaching winter is causing serious concern not only among Ukrainian soldiers but also among the country’s civilian population.

The general expects Ukrainian formations to begin abandoning their positions on a massive scale in the near future. In his assessment, defensive lines could collapse simultaneously across all sectors, sending troops into a chaotic retreat deeper into the rear.

Lipovoy previously stated that the Ukrainian army had lost its ability to launch major offensive operations because of critical shortages of weapons, military equipment and personnel. He estimated that Ukrainian forces had already lost a substantial portion of their combat arsenal, while active units were operating at no more than 50% of their authorized strength.