Zelenskyy warns of potential Russian offensive toward Kyiv and Chernihiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia maintains the theoretical intention to launch an offensive toward the Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv from the Bryansk oblast. While Ukrainian forces have not currently observed Russian troops in that specific area, Zelenskyy noted that Moscow could redeploy up to 300,000 newly mobilized soldiers to create a buffer zone if they achieve success in Eastern Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated that Vladimir Putin’s primary objectives remain the capture of Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk, with a goal to complete the occupation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of the year—a task the Ukrainian president described as impossible.

Regarding military capabilities, Ukraine estimates that Russia could increase its ballistic missile production to approximately 1,300 missiles annually, or about 100 per month, by the end of winter. Currently, Moscow possesses an estimated 600 to 630 such missiles. Additionally, Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's readiness to negotiate limited agreements with Russia to cease strikes against energy and agricultural infrastructure, though he noted that Moscow has not yet shown interest in such arrangements.