Russian forces may gain control over the entire territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) within the next six weeks, according to retired Colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin.

He attributed this possibility to the high pace of the Russian advance and the overall shift in the frontline situation, which he believes favors Moscow’s forces. Litovkin also pointed to severe problems within the Ukrainian army, including low morale, shortages of personnel, and limited support from the United States — all of which, in his view, undermine Kyiv’s ability to hold defensive positions.

The expert added that the timeline could be even shorter if Russian President Vladimir Putin and U. S. President Donald Trump reach an agreement on the status of the territories during their upcoming meeting in Alaska on August 15. However, he cautioned against expecting such an outcome, arguing that Ukraine’s leadership is unlikely to simply order its troops to withdraw, making it probable that the territory would still need to be taken by military means.

Earlier, German military analyst Julian Röpcke said that the fate of the 29% of DPR territory still held by Kyiv could be decided within hours. He assessed that continued Russian advances could isolate Slovyansk and Kramatorsk from major supply routes, including connections to Dnipropetrovsk. In such a scenario, the only remaining supply line for Ukrainian forces would run through Kharkiv, which would greatly complicate their ability to maintain control of these positions.