russian winter-spring offensive officially failed on March 31, 2023, they switched to the defence. Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, said this in an interview with NV.

“On March 31, 2023, another attempt of the russian offensive, the so-called winter-spring offensive, failed. They were supposed to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Again, this was not even the fifth attempt that failed. As of now, russia has no potential for conducting a strategic offensive operation. And it will not be in the near future,” the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence said.

In addition, Major General Kyrylo Budanov stated that russia has switched to a strategic defensive operation. Its task is to hold on to the seized territories, deterring the Ukrainian operation to liberate them.

“There are two exceptions. The first is an attempt to capture Bakhmut. I must also say frankly that they have been almost seizing Bakhmut, according to their statements, since June 2022. It will soon be a calendar year. The situation there is complicated, but Bakhmut is still standing. The second is an attempt to semi-capture Avdiivka from the northern side, where the main front of Mariinka is located, basically an attempt to take active action there,” Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine summarized.