Ukraine’s entrance may collapse in MONTHS, the UK is warned – as senior management figures in war-torn nation urge Britain to extend navy assist or face ‘nightmarish state of affairs’
Ukraine’s front could collapse in just six months, ministers have been warned. Senior figures in Ukraine’s leadership have raised the alarm as they urged Britain to increase military support or face a ‘nightmarish scenario’.
A collapse of the front line could leave Europe exposed as well as embolden China to seize Taiwan, MPs have said.
The country has ‘as little as six months’ of fighting power left, sources with knowledge of intelligence briefings coming out of Ukraine said.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative party leader who met senior Ukrainian officials on a visit to the front line and Kyiv last week, said: ‘The stark truth is, we haven’t spent enough.’
He said: ‘The pessimistic prediction [by a key Ukrainian official] is based on his country’s dwindling stocks of munitions, particularly shells for the 155mm field gun, which can hit targets 15 miles away. Ukraine simply cannot compete. For every round that they fire, Russia fires at least four back.’
Last week Foreign Secretary David Lammy was given the shock warning. Insiders also said the Prime Minister will likely have had similar briefings from his National Security Adviser.
Defence sources have also expressed concerns that promised equipment and resources have been hit with delays and delivery problems.
And Ukrainian MP Oleksii Honcharenko also said on his Telegram channel of government discussions: ‘If nothing changes, the front line may begin to collapse and there will be problems.’
Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of a rocket strike on a residential building in Poltava, Ukraine on February 1, 2025
amaged cars parked on the street in the city centre after Russian attack with missiles on January 31, 2025 in Odesa
Rescuers help elderly residents leave their homes after a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Writing in today’s Mail on Sunday, Sir Iain says a senior Ukrainian intelligence officer told him bluntly: ‘Ukraine is losing the war. For all the Russian losses [estimated at 1,500 soldiers a day], Ukraine is losing ground daily.’
When Sir Iain asked how long the country could hold on for, the intelligence officer replied: ‘At worst six months.’
Sir Iain adds that this predicts: ‘As schoolchildren in the UK are breaking up for the summer holidays in July, Russian tanks will be smashing through Ukrainian defensive lines.’
The MP passed the stark warning to Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy in a meeting last week.
He says that if the front line collapses, ‘it’s easy to imagine Putin’s forces ploughing across the fields of eastern and central Ukraine unopposed, with Kyiv in their crosshairs. Zelensky would have to negotiate a ruinous peace, cleaving his country in two and would likely be forced into exile so the Kremlin could install a puppet government in Kyiv.
‘Victorious military parades would trundle through Red Square while the citizens of Ukraine face a bleak future under the jackboot of their murderous neighbour.
‘It’s a nightmarish scenario for the West, given the vast sums spent supporting Ukraine.’
An estimated one million people have been killed or wounded in the war, which this month will enter its fourth year. Ukraine has been losing territory in the east.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative party leader who met senior Ukrainian officials on a visit to the front line and Kyiv last week, said: ‘The stark truth is, we haven’t spent enough’
Firefighters are at work to put out a fire that broke out in a heavilydamaged residential building following a missile strike in Poltava
Ukrainian firefighters and officials conduct an extinguishing work after Russia strikes a residential building with a missile in Poltava
Residents clean rubble of a building following a missile strike in Poltava on February 1
At least three people died and ten others, including a child, were injured as result of the shelling, according to the State Emergency Service report
Firefighters extinguish a residential house damaged by Russian drone
A damaged car lies in the yard of damaged residential building after Russian drone attack on January 30
Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of a damaged residential building after shelling in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine
Last month the UK Prime Minister travelled to Ukraine and met President Zelensky where they signed a ‘landmark’ 100-year partnership
Former Conservative security minister Tom Tugendhat claims Putin’s (pictured) ‘designs don’t stop at Ukraine’
Last month the UK Prime Minister travelled to Ukraine and met President Zelensky. They signed a ‘landmark’ 100-year partnership. As a ‘statement of our intent for the long term in relation to our commitment to Ukraine’.
During the visit Sir Keir said: ‘We’re now a long way into this conflict; we mustn’t let up. It’s very important we ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.’
Former Conservative security minister Tom Tugendhat said: ‘Russia’s war against us has seen sabotage, murders and fraud. We know Putin’s designs don’t stop at Ukraine, but failure there would encourage his violent ambitions and put us all at greater risk.’
Conservative MP and former Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns said: ‘Ukraine is consistently underestimated, yet they’ve survived yet another winter under-resourced and under-supported. Europe seems to be forgetting Ukraine is its frontline. Its indomitable spirit is not enough – we must give them more to defeat this terrorist imperialist, and now.’
