Retired US general: Ukrainian army could enter Crimea by mid-2023

by The Kyiv Independent news desk September 28, 2022 4:13 PM 1 min read

This audio is created with AI assistance

Speaking to Lithuanian media outlet LRT, retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges expressed "great confidence" in Ukraine's Armed Forces and their ability to liberate all of the territory currently occupied by Russia.

"I hope that by the end of this year, Ukrainian forces will push Russian forces to the positions of Feb. 23," Hodges said, "and that by the middle of next year, the Ukrainians will be in Crimea."

Speaking to the Kyiv Independent in Germany last week, Hodges said: "We have reached the point of irreversible momentum for Ukraine."

"They don't want to fight, they're exhausted, and their logistics are exhausted," he said on the current state of the Russian armed forces.

The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.Read more

News Feed

12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.

12:03 PM

Germany's incoming government wants EU to get tough on Hungary, Politico reports.

The incoming German government wants the EU to adopt harsher measures to punish countries violating the bloc's core principles, an apparent reference to Hungary, Politico reported on March 31, citing an obtained coalition agreement.

11:31 AM

Lithuania says vehicle carrying 4 US soldiers pulled from swamp; no news on the troops.

U.S. soldiers and a tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 in a training area near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus.

10:43 AM

CNN gives airtime to Russian ultranationalist ideologue who called for genocide in Ukraine.

In an interview with CNN, ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he represented an ideology that "changes the balance in the world."

10:10 AM

There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says.

"If I think they're (Russia) tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, voicing his belief that the Kremlin's chief "wants to make a deal."

9:31 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 17 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 57 out of 131 Shahed-type drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 45 drones disappeared from radars, according to the statement.

9:10 AM

Ukraine ceasefire could raise security risks for Baltic states, Estonian defense minister says.

"We all understand that when the war in Ukraine will be stopped, Russia will redistribute its forces very quickly. That means also the threat level will increase significantly very quickly," said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

8:59 AM

Shooter opens fire on police in Russia's Murmansk.

The man began shooting from the roof of a building at Kolskiy Avenue 10 in the central part of the city, after which the authorities stormed the roof and "neutralized" the attacker, the regional Investigative Committee said.

8:36 AM

US, Russia begin talks on rare earth minerals projects, Moscow claims.

"Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia," said Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 915,230 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,230 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:24 AM

Zelensky publishes declaration of 2024 family income.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and his family members declared $368,556 in income last year, an increase from the 2023 total.

5:36 AM

Doctors resume operating on patients at military hospital hit by Russian strike.

"Operations have resumed in the operating rooms, which were damaged by the blast wave. The hospital cannot stop providing assistance and treating patients for even a minute."

4:46 AM

'If he does that, he's got some big problems' — Trump claims Zelensky wants to back out of minerals deal.

"He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29.

3:47 AM

Starmer, Trump agree to keep up 'collective pressure' on Putin.

The comment followed Trump's phone call with NBC, during which he reportedly said he is "pissed off and very angry" about Putin's continued focus on President Volodymyr Zelensky.

2:51 AM

'Putin couldn’t care less about diplomacy' — Zelensky says as Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine.

"For several weeks, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

11:43 PM

Finnish president pushes for April 20 ceasefire date in talks with Trump.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that April 20 is a “good time for a complete ceasefire without any conditions” in Ukraine, Yle reported on March 30.

9:59 PM

Ukraine war latest: Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says.

8:52 PM

Mstyslav Chernov's film '2,000 Meters to Andriivka' wins award at documentary film festival in Denmark.

Ukrainian director and journalist Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka received the F:ACT Award at Denmark’s CPH:DOX documentary film festival, organizers announced on March 29.

7:05 PM

Sweden pledges $76 million towards Ukrainian drone and demining coalitions.

Sweden has allocated 80 million Swedish kronor ($7.6 million) to support Ukraine's drone and demining capabilities as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the Swedish government announced in a press release on March 28.

5:33 PM

Trump says he's 'pissed off' and 'very angry' at Putin in phone interview with NBC News.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "pissed off" and "very angry" regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's fixation over President Volodymyr Zelensky, NBC News reported on March 30.

5:26 PM

NYT: 2023 southern counteroffensive was undermined by Syrskyi's desire to take back Bakhmut.

Bakhmut fell to Russian forces in late spring 2023. It would go on to be described as one of the bloodiest battles of the full-scale war.

4:19 PM

Judicial Reform

Ukraine's tainted judges get a helping hand from law enforcement to stay in office

3:19 PM

Video

More US controversies and cyberattack | Ukraine This Week.

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur discusses how the Trump administration conducts foreign policy as Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is embroiled in several controversies amid ceasefire negotiations. Also, Ukrainians experience yet another cyberattack, this time on the national railway service.

2:17 PM

NYT: Biden administration was 'surprised,' 'angry' by Ukraine's sinking of the Moskva in 2022.

The Moskva sank on April 14, 2022, after being struck by two Ukrainian R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles. The attack marked one of Kyiv’s most significant early victories in the full-scale war and dealt a major blow to Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

1:27 PM

Partisans destroy electronic warfare system in occupied Kherson Oblast, military intelligence suggests.

Russian occupants use such electronic warfare systems to "suppress radio communications and conduct electronic intelligence. The loss of such a system significantly weakens the capabilities of the aggressor’s army," Ukraine's military intelligence wrote.

MORE NEWS