Russia is planning further offensive operations in Ukraine and intends to expand its mobilization efforts to replenish its significantly depleted forces. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on his official Telegram channel on Tuesday, April 28, following a comprehensive intelligence briefing. The revelation comes amid reports of unprecedented casualty rates within the Russian military, highlighting Moscow’s determination to continue its aggressive campaign despite the devastating toll on its own population.
According to the President, he received a detailed report from Oleh Ivashchenko, the Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence operatives have successfully obtained specific, highly classified documents from the Russian General Staff. These intercepted materials clearly indicate that Russian military commanders internally acknowledge their inability to fulfill the strategic objectives set by their political leadership. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to systematically dismantle the offensive potential of the Russian army, pushing Moscow into an increasingly desperate position.
The true scale of Russia’s military disaster is reflected in the intelligence figures cited by Zelensky. The data shows that the rate of irretrievable losses among enemy forces has now reached approximately 60% of their total casualties. This means a significant majority of wounded soldiers are unable to return to combat due to the severity of their injuries and inadequate medical care. These findings align with recent international assessments. Earlier, following a report by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov at a Ramstein-format meeting, it was revealed that March saw the highest Russian losses of the entire war—with over 35,000 occupiers killed or severely wounded. Furthermore, statistics indicate that Russia loses an average of 254 soldiers killed or critically injured for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory it manages to occupy, with the figure soaring to 428 in the heavily contested Donetsk region.
“Despite this, the Russian political leadership is planning further offensive operations and is preparing to involve more personnel, in particular by expanding mobilization processes in Russia,” Zelensky emphasized. To counter this looming threat, Ukraine’s primary objective will be to further increase the percentage of irretrievable Russian losses. The President highlighted the critical need to increase the density of drone deployment along the frontlines. Unmanned aerial vehicles have proven to be a decisive game-changer, allowing Ukrainian forces to strike Russian positions, logistics networks, and advancing mechanized columns with pinpoint precision.
Beyond the battlefield, Kyiv aims to scale up long-range sanctions against Russia’s weapons manufacturing and oil industries, which serve as the financial backbone of the Kremlin’s war machine. The intelligence briefing also shed light on broader geopolitical threats. Zelensky noted that Ukraine will inform its Western partners about Moscow’s ongoing development of hybrid operations directed against NATO countries. Additionally, the documents reveal persistent Russian attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the execution of its military tasks. As the conflict evolves, Ukraine remains resolute, fortifying its borders and continuously adapting its strategy to neutralize the multifaceted threats posed by the aggressor state.