Russia’s aim is to seize Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia by the end of the year, Kyiv’s ground forces chief has warned.

“Russia’s main goal remains to destroy Ukraine as a nation,” said Oleksandr Pavliuk, who in February took over from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s military chief, as ground forces commander. 

“But as we haven’t given them that opportunity since 2022, we believe the goals the Russians set for themselves this year are the complete occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and, if they are successful there, the Zaporizhzhia region.”

First on Russia’s list of targets is the Donetsk hilltop stronghold of Chasiv Yar, which reports suggest it intends to capture in time for Russian Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

“We are trying everything we can do to stop the Russian plan to capture Chasiv Yar before May 9, ”the commander told the Times. “But the Russians have a 10-to-one ratio of artillery superiority there, and total air superiority.” 

Mr Pavliuk echoed previous warnings from Kyiv that Russia is maximising its gains ahead of the arrival of US weapons, after Congress last month passed a $61 billion aid package following months of delays.

“We will do everything we can to prevent a Russian breakthrough, and we hope that the American weaponry will help us,” said Mr Pavliuk. “If it had arrived in time, we would not have lost the territories that we have lost in the last few months.”