Deputy defence minister says Ukrainian forces could be back in Crimea by year’s end
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Volodymyr Havrylov (Photo:General Staff/Facebook)
The Ukrainian Armed Forces could be back in Crimea by the end of December and the war with Russia could end by the spring, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Volodymyr Havrylov said in an interview with UK broadcaster Sky News on Nov. 19.
Asked about the strategical role of the liberation of the city of Kherson, which had had been occupied over eight months, he replied the achieving other goals was a matter of time.
"It's only a matter of time and, of course, we would like to make it sooner than later," Havrylov said.
He speculated some "black swan" event – something unpredictable, such as the sudden collapse of the regime of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin – could be helpful. It also could be "a military option with some kind of combination of forces, resources and something else," he said.
"We could be in Crimea, for example, by the end of December. It’s possible, possible. It’s not excluded."
Havrylov said, however, that the Ukrainian army would continue fighting through the winter without losing its momentum, as any pause "will give the Russian side more chances to replenish its stocks and bring in reinforcements."
As to when the full-scale war might end, the Deputy Defence Minister said as a military it was important to him to be prepared for a long fight in case Russia is able to gather significant reinforcements.
"Of course, in this case, the war will take some time,” Havrylov said.
“But my feeling is that by the end of the spring, this war will be over."
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