Ukraine: Russia Has Postponed Its Donbas Takeover Deadline for the 15th Time

Russian military command has once again pushed back the deadline for seizing Donetsk region — the fifteenth such postponement so far, according to Pavlo Palisa, adviser to the head of Ukraine's presidential office. He said the Kremlin originally aimed to complete the Donbas operation by the end of 2026, but the military leadership has now asked for the deadline to be extended to March 31, 2027.

"For yet another year, the Russians have failed to achieve any operational breakthrough in Donetsk region," Palisa wrote on Facebook. According to his estimate, the Russian army is paying with hundreds of soldiers killed and wounded for every square kilometer of territory it takes.

Talks with Trump's Envoys

Palisa, who rose to prominence as the commander of Bakhmut's defense, has worked in Zelensky's office since 2024. He said he discussed Russia's plans and how they are being carried out during a meeting with envoys of US President Donald Trump — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Separately, he said, the talks touched on air strikes. Jet-powered drones have emerged as a new challenge for the Ukrainian side. "Here too, the Russians have no technological breakthrough of their own: neither the design nor the engine is their development," Palisa added, noting that Kyiv has already deployed interceptor drones against these new Russian weapons.

A Call to Allies

In closing, according to the Unian news agency, Palisa appealed to Ukraine's foreign allies, stressing that the volume of aid they provide directly affects how many lives — both military and civilian — can be saved. "That is why we must continue defending our shared future together with our partners, as a united front," he concluded.

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Source: novinky.cz