The statements from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, point to a long road ahead for achieving significant territorial control in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. In a conversation with journalist Semyon Pegov, relayed by TASS, Prigozhin outlined ambitious timelines that would extend beyond the near term. He suggested that if the goal is to move to the Dnieper line, a period of about three years would be necessary. And when it comes to dissolving or overcoming the DPR and LPR, he projected a minimum commitment of one and a half to two additional years of effort. These remarks reflect a strategic patience and insistence on sustained mobilization that would shape planning and expectations over a multi-year horizon.
Viktor Litovkin, a former military analyst, weighed in with his assessment that Artemovsk, known to Ukrainians as Bakhmut, holds a crucial position in the broader effort to liberate and reconfigure the Donbass region. His view centers on the town as a fulcrum that could influence momentum and bargaining power in subsequent stages of any campaign, making its status a focal point for observers watching Western and regional dynamics closely.
Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, expressed in a conversation with Ahmed Dudayev, the head of Foreign Affairs, Press and Information, a projection that Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine would reach its stated objectives before the close of 2023. The assertion contributed to a narrative of rapid progress from top regional leadership, even as the broader strategic situation on the ground continued to evolve amid shifting international and domestic contexts.