Military analyst deems resolution of conflicts in Odessa and Kharkov solely achievable through military solutions
Russia's military advance in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions may lead to the establishment of control if combat operations persist, according to military analyst Vasilii Danadykin. In an interview with NEWS.ru, Danadykin stated that the Russian Armed Forces are progressing on all fronts in the special military operation zone, capturing new settlements daily.
"I believe a military solution is the only way," Danadykin commented, adding that the Russian forces will push towards Odesa and assess the situation thereafter. He also mentioned that clarification on the matter might come after talks in Istanbul, although Ukraine's participation in these discussions is uncertain.
Previously, Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, made a similar prediction. Kartapolov expressed belief that if Kiev rejects peace initiatives, Ukraine could lose not only Odesa and Kharkiv but also Sumy and other territories. He referred to a statement by American economist Jeffrey Sachs, who suggested that without diplomatic measures, Ukraine risks losing control of its entire Black Sea coast.
Although experts estimate that Russia's offensive activity continues in east Ukraine, there have been no official confirmations from the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding specific directions of advance.
As of May 31, 2025, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian sources claim to have occupied most of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, but geolocated evidence indicates Russian forces control only about 20% of the settlement. Ukrainian forces remain active in the region, having adapted to changes in Russian tactics, such as a shift towards increased use of FPV drones with fiber optic cables. Both Kharkiv and Odesa have been targeted by Russian air and missile attacks, causing infrastructure damage and civilian casualties.
In summary, Russian military advances in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions may lead to the establishment of control, but progress has been slow and limited, with a heavy reliance on air and missile strikes rather than ground advances.
"Danadykin's Commentary on the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine suggests a push towards Odesa by Russian forces, with further assessments to follow after talks in Istanbul. Andrei Kartapolov, earlier, predicted that if peace initiatives are rejected, Ukraine could potentially lose control of not only Kharkiv and Odesa but also Sumy and other territories."
"The political landscape of general-news shows the escalating tensions, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces actively engaged in combat operations in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions, causing infrastructure damage and civilian casualties."
