Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

“Analysts at the DIU base their assessment on the fact that there are no signs on the battlefield indicating Russia is ready to cease fire and begin meaningful negotiations. Their plans are clear, and this is what they are saying: there will be no agreements or peace deal signed by the end of this year. Putin wants to achieve the goals he has set for himself – first and foremost, control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Their General Staff's plans call for completing the capture of the Donetsk region by the end of this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DIU predicts that in the autumn and winter, Russian forces will focus their attacks on defense industry facilities, energy infrastructure, logistics systems and gas stations.

“In winter, our most vulnerable areas are electricity and heating, so they could also be targeted. For example, not long ago, the Russians developed a drone designed to strike power transmission towers and lines. Its wings contain an explosive element capable of cutting through metal,” the DIU Deputy Chief said.

In addition, according to the DIU, Ukraine’s gas transportation system and gas production facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions are also under threat.

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peace– Dutch diplomat

As reported by Ukrinform, intelligence officials confirmed that Russia has formed battalions made up of Ukrainian prisoners of war.