Zhdanov does not believe in Putin’s voluntary renunciation of Crimea.

Today, there are two possible scenarios for the liberation of Crimea from Russian occupiers.

They were voiced by military expert Oleg Zhdanov in an interview with the Glavred website.

According to him, the first option will provide for the pulling of ground forces in the Crimea and strengthening the defense on the occupied peninsula.

“The second option is that Russian troops quietly withdraw from Crimea, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine bring their units there. Everything will depend on what the political and practical alignment will be inside the Russian Federation,” the expert added.

Zhdanov does not believe that the Russian Federation will give up the peninsula during Putin’s term. He recalled that the dictator considers the seizure of Crimea his highest political achievement.

“While Putin is in power, there are no prerequisites for the peninsula to be voluntarily returned to Ukraine. I would even say that today there is no bloodless way to return Crimea. An opportunity for Ukraine will appear if the ruling clan changes in Russian politics. Then Moscow can make a gesture of “good will” and cede Crimea by political means without the use of forceful scenarios,” he said.

Zhdanov predicts that the de-occupation of the peninsula may take a long time – at least six months, maximum a year.

The fate of the Crimean bridge

According to Zhdanov, today the Armed Forces of Ukraine have no opportunities to strike the bridge. 

“If there were, it would be necessary to launch such a strike immediately. We will not stop the flow of all the weapons of the Russians until we strike the overpass. If Russia succeeds in continuing to ensure constant replenishment of its southern group of troops on our territory, we “we will face enormous difficulties. We cannot exclude the impossibility of further advancement of troops for the liberation of Crimea,” he explained.

Earlier, the Office of the President reported that Ukraine was already developing evacuation routes for residents of the occupied Crimea.

(C)UNIAN 2022