Considering that the Russian defense in the south has already been breached in some areas, Ukrainian forces can sever the land connections between Russia and Crimea before the onset of winter, Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with The Economist.

"Its first defensive line in the all-important southern axis in Zaporizhia has already been pierced in places, meaning that the operation to sever the land connections between Russia and Crimea may yet be achieved before winter sets in," he said.

It is noted that Ukraine may have already used a limited number of its reserve forces, but now Russia is committing insufficient reserves, which it did not plan to deploy until the end of October.

"Contrary to what the Russian Federation declares, it has absolutely no strategic reserve," the general said.

According to him, the Russian 25th Combined Arms Army, which is currently prematurely deployed on the eastern front around Lyman and Kupiansk, has only 80% of the manpower and 55% of the equipment it should have.