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Russian Security Forces to Remain in Eastern Ukraine Post-War, Kremlin Official Says
A senior Kremlin official declared Friday that Russian police and National Guard forces will maintain a presence in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region even if peace negotiations succeed in ending the nearly four-year conflict. This statement by Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov highlights Moscow’s determination to retain influence in the industrially valuable territory, a position Ukraine is almost certain to reject.
“It’s entirely possible that there won’t be any troops in the Donbas, either Russian or Ukrainian,” Ushakov told the Russian business daily Kommersant. However, he added that “there will be the National Guard, our police, everything necessary to maintain order and organize life.”
Ushakov further emphasized that Moscow would only agree to a ceasefire after Ukrainian forces withdraw from current front lines, and insisted that “no matter what the outcome of peace talks, this territory is Russian Federation territory.” Russia illegally annexed Donetsk and three other Ukrainian regions in 2022, following its earlier seizure of Crimea in 2014.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces have recaptured several settlements near Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region. This development contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim from less than two months ago that Ukrainian troops in Kupiansk were surrounded. Putin had even suggested media visits to prove his assertion, part of his broader strategy to portray Russia as negotiating from a position of strength.
The Ukrainian National Guard’s Khartia Corps stated they had gradually severed Russian supply routes into Kupiansk since September 22, regaining control of the villages of Kindrashivka and Radkivka, as well as several northern districts of the city. The Corps claimed that approximately 200 Russian soldiers are currently encircled in central Kupiansk, where fighting continues.
In a video posted Friday showing him on the road to Kupiansk, Zelenskyy emphasized the strategic importance of battlefield gains: “Today, it is critically important to achieve results on the battlefield so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy.”
The territorial dispute represents a major obstacle in peace negotiations. Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine, including land seized since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. Ukraine maintains that its constitution prohibits surrendering territory, creating a seemingly intractable situation for negotiators.
U.S.-led peace efforts have faced significant challenges as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a swift resolution. Trump recently compared the negotiations to “a very complex real estate deal” and in October suggested the Donbas region would need to be “cut up” to end the war. His administration wants to see more progress before sending envoys to potential weekend meetings with European leaders.
European leaders are also working to influence the peace process. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to host Zelenskyy on Monday for discussions, with numerous European heads of state and government, along with EU and NATO leaders, joining the meeting afterward.
The conflict continues to intensify on multiple fronts. Russia has been making a determined push to gain complete control of the Donbas region, comprised of Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk provinces. Though making slow progress due to its numerical advantage, Russian forces have suffered significant casualties and equipment losses in the war of attrition.
Ukraine has increasingly deployed long-range strike capabilities using domestically produced weapons. Its Special Operations Forces claimed Friday that they struck two Russian vessels in the Caspian Sea that were carrying military equipment and arms. The ships, identified as the Kompozitor Rakhmaninov and Askar-Saridzha, are reportedly under U.S. sanctions for transporting weapons between Russia and Iran.
Cross-border drone attacks continue from both sides. Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike wounded seven people, including a child, in the Russian city of Tver, northwest of Moscow. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukrainian territories also faced significant drone attacks. A Russian drone strike on a residential area in Pavlohrad killed one person and wounded four others. In the southern Odesa region, attacks damaged energy infrastructure, leaving over 90,000 people without electricity on Friday morning. Ukrainian air defense forces reported that Russia launched approximately 80 drones across the country during the night.
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9 Comments
It’s not surprising that Russia wants to maintain a security presence in the Donbas, given the region’s economic and strategic importance. However, this runs counter to the principles of sovereignty and self-determination that should guide any conflict resolution.
You make a fair point. Russia’s economic and political interests in the Donbas are clearly a driving factor behind its actions. But the people of Ukraine should have the final say on their country’s future.
This is an interesting development. It seems Russia is determined to maintain a strong presence in eastern Ukraine, even if a peace deal is reached. This could complicate any future negotiations and further destabilize the region.
You’re right, this is a concerning move by Russia. Maintaining a security presence in the Donbas region after a potential ceasefire would be a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The Kremlin’s insistence on maintaining a security presence in the Donbas is a clear power play to retain influence in the region. This disregard for Ukraine’s sovereignty is a major barrier to achieving a lasting peace in the conflict.
Russia’s claim that the Donbas territory is ‘Russian Federation territory’ is extremely worrying and completely at odds with international law. This signals Moscow’s intent to hold onto the region by force, regardless of any peace agreements.
Exactly. Russia’s disregard for Ukraine’s territorial integrity is a major obstacle to any lasting peace settlement. This power play undermines the entire peace process.
This news raises serious questions about Russia’s true intentions in Ukraine. If Moscow is unwilling to fully withdraw its forces, even after a peace deal, it suggests the Kremlin views the conflict as a zero-sum game rather than seeking a genuine resolution.
Absolutely. Russia’s stance undermines the entire premise of peace negotiations and casts doubt on whether it is acting in good faith. This will only prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people.