Ukrainian general predicts troops could reach Crimea before end of the year in ultimate humiliation for Vladimir Putin

A Ukrainian general has predicted his country’s forces could reach as far as Crimea by Christmas – and end the war not long after that.

A retired Ukrainian major general has predicted his country’s forces could reach Crimea by Christmas and end Russia’s invasion by the next northern hemisphere spring.

General Volodymyr Havrylov said it was “only a matter of time” before Ukraine recaptured the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally seized by Russia in 2014.

“Of course, we would like to make it sooner than later,” he told Sky News UK, suggesting Ukraine’s effort could be aided by a “black swan” event in Russia, such as an unexpected, drastic political change.

Even without such an event, however, he said it was “possible” Ukrainian forces could be back in Crimea by the end of the year, The Sun reports.

Gen Havrylov said he also believed the war could be wrapped up entirely shortly after the one-year anniversary of it being launched, in February.

“Of course, in this case, the war will take some time,” he conceded.

“But my feeling is that by the end of the spring, this war will be over.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Sergei Bobylyov/Sputnik/AFP

The retired general also dismissed the idea of holding peace talks with Russia, saying it would only happen if Putin’s forces gave up all occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.

“There is a decision inside the society in Ukraine that we are going up to the end,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of scenario is on the table. People paid a lot of blood, a lot of efforts (for) what we have already achieved.”

Meanwhile Andriy Yermak, who heads the Ukrainian presidential office, hinted at a military campaign in Crimea, saying he was “sure” it would happen. He stopped short of identifying a date for any such action.

A former US general, Ben Hodges, previously speculated that Ukraine could retake Crimea in a two-pronged blitz.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges told The Sun Ukraine was gathering “irreversible momentum” while scything through territory previously seized by Russia early in the invasion.

“All roads lead to Crimea,” he said.

“I am confident the Ukrainians will liberate Crimea by next summer ... there is inexorable movement and pressure from the Ukrainians.”

The northern hemisphere’s summer begins in June.

“If you imagine, from the Ukrainian perspective, you have the left wing of this offensive coming down from Kharkiv through Donetsk and Luhansk,” Gen Hodges continued.

“And then you have the right wing, which has been operating very methodically through Kherson.

“Once they get the ability to strike Russian targets in Crimea, then those places become untenable.”

The loss of Crimea would be a monumental humiliation for Putin. Picture: Sergei Guneyev/Sputnik/AFP

These latest predictions come as Russia continues to suffer humiliating setbacks, including the loss of Kherson this month.

The key area was the only regional capital Putin’s forces had managed to capture.

Over the weekend, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak became the latest senior foreign leader to make a surprise trip to Ukraine, where he met his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Sunak announced the United Kingdom was going to provide Ukraine with weapons worth tens of millions of dollars, including anti-aircraft guns to shoot down Russian drones.

This story first appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission.

Originally published as Ukrainian general predicts troops could reach Crimea before end of the year in ultimate humiliation for Vladimir Putin