Former NATO general Harald Kujat: Russia is approaching full control over Donbas

Former NATO general Harald Kujat, in an interview with German journalist Flavio von Witzleben, stated that Russia is closing in on establishing full control over Donbas.

“Russia is approaching its main goal — the complete establishment of control over these two regions,” Kujat said.

According to him, Russia is also expanding its operational objectives: creating buffer zones and blocking Ukraine’s maritime communications.

Assessing specific directions, Kujat noted that the Luhansk region is almost entirely under the control of Russian forces. The territory of the Donetsk region under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is gradually shrinking. In addition, the Russian military command is expanding its influence in the Sumy region, establishing a security zone there — thereby, in the general’s assessment, preventing a possible Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk region.

On September 21, military expert Andrei Marochko reported that Russian army fighters had taken control of most of Orekhov in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to him, Russian forces managed to occupy more advantageous lines and positions, after which they continued to “push the armed formations of Ukraine out of the settlement.”

Previously, the Russian Armed Forces took control of five settlements in the combat zone.