Since 2022, Russian Forces Have Missed 15 Putin Deadlines For Taking Donetsk

Awkward. It can be so deflating to one's reputation for toughness in the digital era, because it is easy to keep score. Between the Russian invasion in 2022 and now, President Putin has set 15 different deadlines for the Russian army to capture all of Ukraine's Donetsk oblast. There have been three separate deadlines set this year alone. 

But aside from the two most recent deadlines set in the future, the Russian military has failed to achieve any of them - and those two in the future aren't looking like good bets either. JL

Sevinj Osmanqizi reports in the Kyiv Post:

Since the start of the invasion, the Russian army has been given 15 deadlines for capturing Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Russia’s first deadlines came in 2022: March 31, May 9, June 1, Sept. 15 and Dec. 31. In 2023, Putin set two more deadlines for capturing Donbas: March 1, and then, when that failed, Dec. 31. In 2024, there were again two such deadlines. In 2025, when Russia tried to convince US President Donald Trump that Ukraine would fall, Moscow set three more final dates for capturing Donetsk region: Sept. 1, Dec. 1 and Dec. 25. This year, Russia again pushed back the target. First, it was March 31. Then Sept. 1. Now, the deadline has been moved to Dec. 31. "The million Russians who have not yet been mobilized into the army and are arguing in gas lines should think about what awaits them.”

President Zelensky thanked Ukrainian combat brigades holding their positions, especially in Donetsk region, where Russian assaults remain intense.

He said Moscow remains fixated on capturing Donbas and pointed to what he described as one measure of Russia’s repeated failure: since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army has been given 15 deadlines for capturing Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

“Russia’s political leadership remains obsessed with Donbas,” Zelensky said. “They have entertained this delusion – that they would fully capture Donbas – 15 times already.”

According to the president, Russia’s first deadlines came in 2022: March 31, May 9, June 1, Sept. 15 and Dec. 31.

In 2023, Putin set two more deadlines for capturing Donbas: March 1, and then, when that failed, Dec. 31.

In 2024, there were again two such deadlines.

In 2025, when Russia tried to convince US President Donald Trump that Ukraine would supposedly fall, Moscow set three more final dates for capturing Donetsk region: Sept. 1, Dec. 1 and Dec. 25.

This year, Russia again pushed back the target. First, it was March 31. Then Sept. 1. Now, according to Zelensky, the deadline has been moved to Dec. 31. 

Putin’s “next million”

The Ukrainian leader warned that if Russia refuses to end the war, it will be forced to move the deadline again – at a devastating human cost.

“If Putin wants to sacrifice another million of his soldiers to keep smashing against this wall, then the million Russians who have not yet been mobilized into the Russian army and are arguing in gas lines should think about what awaits them next,” Zelensky said.

He emphasized that Kyiv has already put forward proposals to end the war, all of which Moscow has rejected.

“We have already made every proposal to end this war, and Russia refuses every time,” the president said.

Ukraine expects concrete results from partners

Looking ahead, the president said Ukraine will spend the coming weeks working with international partners on steps that can bring peace closer and strengthen the country’s defense.

Kyiv expects concrete responses from the Group of Seven and members of the Coalition of the Willing regarding Ukraine’s requests.

June and July, he stressed, must deliver results for Ukraine and for shared security.

“Peace is needed,” Zelensky said.

He thanked everyone helping Ukraine defend itself, as well as those providing strength inside the country and supporting others.