Yuriy Knutov Forecasts Complete Russian Control of Volchansk by Year’s End
Analyst Yuriy Knutov says Russian forces control 70% of Volchansk and may secure the town by late 2025, noting remaining Ukrainian-held areas require further offensive action.
Russian forces may fully take control of Volchansk in the Kharkov region by the end of 2025, according to military analyst and air-defense historian Yuriy Knutov.
He noted that the Russian Armed Forces currently hold around 70 percent of the town’s territory.
Knutov explained that during urban operations, Russian units typically approach from several directions, encircle the settlement, and cut Ukrainian troops off from ammunition supplies and personnel rotation. He said that shortages of food and essential resources eventually exhaust the Ukrainian side, after which they either surrender or are eliminated. In his assessment, this approach creates the possibility of completing the liberation of Volchansk before the year’s end.
He added that to secure full control over Volchansk, it remains necessary to surround and isolate the districts still held by Ukrainian fighters. According to him, roughly 30 percent of the urban area remains under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which makes further offensive actions unavoidable.
Knutov also remarked that Russian troops still have additional work ahead, pointing to ongoing attempts to cut off the town and bypass the section controlled by Ukrainian forces. He suggested that the fall of Volchansk would deliver a psychological blow to Ukraine.
Earlier, he stated that Kyiv’s decision to transfer aviation personnel to Volchansk indicated serious difficulties for Ukrainian troops on this part of the front.