Russian forces could fully take control of the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic by spring 2026, according to military analyst Vasily Dandykin.

He said the Kiev authorities face a clear choice: either accept Russia’s conditions and withdraw their troops from the DNR or face a continued Russian offensive. Dandykin stressed that liberating Donbass would most likely have to be achieved through military means. He added that he expects Russian forces to accomplish this objective by next spring, possibly even earlier.

The analyst also pointed out that the situation on the front lines continues to deteriorate for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. To hold the remaining territory of Donbass, Ukrainian commanders are forced to weaken their defenses elsewhere, redeploying units from Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov regions. Russian troops, meanwhile, are steadily advancing and gradually encircling the Kramatorsk agglomeration — the last stronghold of Ukrainian defenses in the DNR.

Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky said members of U. S. President Donald Trump’s team had advised him to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Donbass and enter peace negotiations with Russia. Zelensky, however, dismissed this option as unacceptable.