The combat in Ukraine has slowed, and this trend is likely to continue into the winter months, according to US intelligence services.
Avril Haines, head of intelligence for the United States, stated that there have been no indications of waning Ukrainian resistance.
She stated that both sides would attempt to “refit, replenish, and reconstitute” for any spring counter-offensives.
It follows Russian strikes on the vital energy infrastructure of Ukraine.
In the ninth month of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia lost more than fifty percent of the territory it gained.
Ms. Haines told a California defense symposium that the majority of the combat in eastern Ukraine is occurring in the Bakhmut and Donetsk regions.
As a result of Russia’s withdrawal of troops from the west of the Kherson region last month, she reported that combat had subsided.
She stated, “We’re already observing a reduction in the conflict’s intensity, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming months.”
She stated that both the Ukrainian and Russian forces will prepare for a possible counteroffensive after the winter.
She stated, “However, there is a fair bit of skepticism as to whether or not the Russians will be willing to do so.”
“In this time range, I am more bullish about the Ukrainians’ prospects.”
Ms. Haines stated that U.S. intelligence believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not now have a complete understanding of the threats facing his forces.
We observe ammo shortages, morale problems, supply issues, and logistical problems, among other issues.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, criticized a price ceiling imposed by his Western partners on Russian oil exports as “weak” and as insufficiently “serious” to harm the Russian economy.
The ban, which will go into effect on Monday, is intended to prevent countries from paying more than $60 (£48) per barrel of seaborne Russian crude oil.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated that Russia had prepared for the move but would not sell oil under the cap.
At a virtual conference on Sunday, a group of the world’s leading oil-producing nations is expected to adhere to its oil production goals.
At their most recent ministerial meeting in October, the Opec+ group, which includes Russia and the United Arab Emirates, decided to restrict output by two million barrels per day beginning in November to increase oil prices.
The United States and other Western nations were incensed by the move, with Washington accusing the group of siding with Russia.
Since October, oil prices have decreased as a result of sluggish global growth and rising interest rates. According to Opec insiders, the committee is poised to accept a policy change.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s security service reported that the Kyiv administration is sanctioning ten top Orthodox Church figures whom it accuses of supporting Russia’s incursion.
The penalties, which would freeze their assets for five years, are the most recent measures taken by the Ukrainian government against potentially disruptive religious organizations.
