Ukraine General: Kremlin Orders Soldiers to Capture Donbas by Year-End

Russia's Kremlin has reportedly set a deadline for its military forces to capture the entire Donbas region, according to a senior Ukrainian official. General Pawło Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated that Russian military command has been tasked with reaching the administrative borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions by December 31 of this year.

Palisa's statement, as reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Saturday, indicates a significant escalation in Russia's stated objectives in the ongoing conflict. The push to control the entirety of these eastern Ukrainian regions represents a key strategic goal for Moscow.

The Ukrainian assessment suggests a determined effort by Russian forces to achieve territorial gains before the end of the year. This reported order highlights the continued intensity of the fighting in eastern Ukraine and the strategic importance placed on the Donbas by the Kremlin.