The offensive could come in the eastern Donbas region, in the south, or even towards Kyiv, senior generals say.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has suggested that it could occur in February when half of the 300,000 troops conscripted by Russia in October to support the Ukraine war would complete training.

"The Kremlin is trying to find new solutions [for] how to get the victory," Reznikov told The Guardian, stating that he expected Russia to mobilise more citizens.

However, Western analysts say Russia's ability to conduct successful offensive ground operations is rapidly diminishing.

Britain's most senior military officer Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said this week that the war would only get worse for Moscow, which he added was now facing a critical shortage of artillery munitions.