The head of Ukrainian military intelligence has warned that Russia is trying to split his nation in two.
It has been more than a month since Russia launched what it described as a 'special military operation', which in reality is an invasion of Ukraine, seemingly aimed at toppling the government and seizing control.
But Russia's military has been met with fierce resistance and progress has stalled. Ukraine's defence intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in a statement today (Sunday 27 March) that Putin has realised 'he can't swallow the entire country'.
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Instead, Budanov believes the Russian president will try to split Ukraine in a 'Korean scenario', but vowed 'total' guerrilla warfare to prevent the nation becoming divided.
He added: "The occupiers will try to pull the occupied territories into a single quasi-state structure and pit it against independent Ukraine."
It comes after Russia's defence ministry said the first phase of its operation was over, with troops now focusing on the 'liberation of Donbas' – a region in the east of the country, held predominantly by Russian-backed separatists.
Sergei Rudskoy, head of the General Staff's main operations administration, said: "The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been carried out.
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"The combat capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces have been substantially reduced, which allows us to concentrate our main efforts on achieving the main goal: the liberation of Donbas."
Russia has been bombarding major cities, such as the capital, Kyiv, but General Rudskoy said these attacks were designed to keep Ukrainian forces preoccupied, to make it easier for Russia to achieve its objectives in the east.
Putin initially said the goal of the war was to 'demilitarise' Ukraine, which he claimed had been carrying out a genocide of Russian speakers; however, the claims have no factual basis, and have been regarded by Western leaders as a pretext for an unjustifiable invasion.
Yesterday (Friday 26 March), US President Joe Biden labelled Putin a 'butcher', with some fearing his comments risked escalating tensions.
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During an impassioned speech in Warsaw, Poland, the 79-year-old added that Putin could not remain in power.
He said: "We will have a different future, a brighter future, rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light, of decency and dignity of freedom and possibilities.
"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power."
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Following the speech, White House officials confirmed the comments were unscripted, but that Biden was not calling for a regime change.
An official said: "The president's point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbours or the region.
"He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia, or regime change."
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Jake Massey