Military expert Roman Svitan believes that Crimea will become a continuous zone of hostilities, since the Russians will not return Ukrainian territory just like that. 

He said this in an interview with "Glavred". 

Roman Svitan noted that

.

Its activation is expected after our troops start moving towards the Azov coast.

"The most optimal option, I repeat once again, is to cut the land corridor and finish off the Crimean bridge, bring the Crimean-Kherson group of Russian troops into a state of virtual encirclement, and in a couple of weeks begin to destroy it. I think that such movements will take place before the new year,

- emphasized the military expert. 

Roman Svitan added that

, as the entire peninsula will become a zone of active hostilities.

He believes that Russians and collaborators will flee the peninsula,

"Crimea is unlucky - it will be liberated by military means. It is much more unlucky than the right bank of the Kherson region. There will be battles for Crimea, because Russian troops will carry out defense tasks. The Russians think that the peninsula is very easy to defend. But, based on our capabilities, it is much easier to de-occupy it than the same Kherson region. Crimea itself, especially after the destruction of the Crimean bridge, will be in an operational environment. And then it is only a matter of time until the Russians use up all their army reserves in Crimea," Roman Svitan emphasized. 

How the Armed Forces will liberate Crimea: forecasts

In the spring of 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and annexed the peninsula to its territory.

It was from Crimea that the Russian-Ukrainian war began. 

The former commander of the US forces in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Godges, believes that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will de-occupy Crimea by August 2023.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the USA, General Mark Milley, believes that 

 is unlikely and it can happen during peace negotiations.

The leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, 

that Crimea can be liberated without bloody battles, namely during negotiations with Russia.

However, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, is convinced that the return of Crimea will take place 

Read also:

• Putin may dare to use nuclear weapons: a former deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation named the prerequisites

• Violent claims to Crimea underscore the slim chances of a peace agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine - Washington Post

• Why the occupiers still haven't evacuated military equipment from Crimea - an expert's explanation