According to him, Putin’s government will begin to collapse as Ukrainian forces get closer to retaking Crimea. “This Ukrainian territory is extremely important to Putin,” said Refat Chubarov, a representative of the Crimean Tatars. “It is therefore clear that Russia, especially at the stage of inevitable defeat, will push all its forces to keep Crimea for itself.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to take back Crimea in a televised speech on August 29. He said the Ukrainian army “has kept the goal in mind” of retaking Crimea since annexation. “This war, which started with the Russian occupation of Crimea, must end right there: in liberated Crimea with our troops reaching the state border of Ukraine,” he said. “We have always kept this goal in mind. We will not forget it.” The president reiterated his goal last week in an interview with the British newspaper ‘Financial Times’.
LOOK. Zelensky: “War won’t be over until Crimea is recaptured”
The British Ministry of Defense ruled on November 18 that Russia is regrouping its troops in preparation for a possible Ukrainian attack on Crimea. According to the ministry, Russian units have constructed new trench systems at the border with Crimea. More and more Russians are also trying to flee the peninsula because they fear that Ukraine will eventually liberate it.