Russia plans to annex territory in eastern Ukraine as early as this month, U.S. official says

Village in Donetsk
(Image credit: Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia plans to annex the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and the southern city of Kherson as early as this month, according to "highly credible" intelligence provided by a senior U.S. official.

NBC News reports that, despite Russia's failure to make significant territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, the invaders plan to solidify their power over those parts of the country they do control.

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Grayson Quay

Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteModern AgeThe American ConservativeThe Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.