Russia “Still Has Resources” for Offensive Operations, Zaluzhnyi Warns
Ukraine’s former top military commander, Valery Zaluzhnyi, has warned that Russia retains enough forces and capabilities to continue launching strikes and offensive operations, urging a shift in expectations away from hopes of restoring Ukraine’s 1991 borders, The Gaze reports, citing Reuters.
“I hope that there are not people in this room who still hope for some kind of miracle or lucky sign that will bring peace to Ukraine, the borders of 1991 or 2022, and that there will be great happiness afterward,” Zaluzhnyi said in a speech at a security forum in Kyiv on Thursday.
Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, served as commander-in-chief during the most intense phases of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He was replaced in February 2024 after reported disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zaluzhnyi warned that Russia “still has resources, forces and means to launch strikes on our territory and attempt specific offensive operations,” emphasizing that the conflict remains a war of attrition.
“We can speak only about a high-tech war of survival, using a minimum of human resources, a minimum of economic means to achieve maximum benefit,” he said.
“And in this situation, we need to understand that: Our financial and economic resources are limited; our dependence on the help of our partners is absolutely obvious and this must be taken into account.”
At present, Russia controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory and continues to reject Kyiv’s conditions for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are relying on international assistance and drone-based innovations to maintain defense lines.
The EU has responded to the lack of progress in peace talks by imposing new sanctions on Russia this week. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in contrast, said talks on a future memorandum would need to define key settlement terms and a ceasefire timeline.
Read more on The Gaze: Why Ukraine Needs to Maintain a Large Army After the War