The main thrust of Russia's offensive should come to a close within one and a half or two months, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov said in comments to graduates the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), Forbes Ukraine reported.
"The practice of a 10-year war shows that the offensive potential of any side does not last more than two months. The Russian offensive operations are approaching three months, so there will be some decline," Budanov said.
Russia launched a new offensive in the northern part of Kharkiv Oblast back in May, but the advance eventually ran out of steam. The operation was seen by many experts as an attempt to distract and stretch Ukrainian forces thin.
In the meantime, Russia has continued to seize villages in Donetsk Oblast and push toward the towns of Chasiv Yar and Pokrovsk, which are said to be Moscow's main targets.
Budanov also said that after a "slight lull," Russia will try to attack again.
"We are preparing for this. Therefore, everything depends on ourselves, what our actions will be," he added.
"Are we just going to sit and wait, let four or five months pass, and everything will happen again? Or will we act proactively?"
General Oleksandr Pivnenko, the commander of Ukraine's National Guard, presented a similar timeline as Budanov back in July, when he estimated that the Russian offensive would wind down within a month and a half.
In May, Budanov said he expected Russia to launch a new offensive into Sumy Oblast after attacking near Kharkiv.
Moscow said on Aug. 6 that Ukrainian troops broke into Russia's Kursk Oblast, which borders with Sumy Oblast. The clashes on Russian soil were reported, but Kyiv has not commented on the fighting.
Andrew Chakhoyan
