Anyone that looks at the fine map you posted can come to a conclusion. Putin will go for the region behind/his side of the red line on it.
Or to the Dnieper.
BTW, I think this is not gonna start on land. I think it will start on the sea.
Somebody is going to take a shot.
BTW, have they (NATO Navy) re-established contact with the Black Hole sub?
Those maps are intentionally deceptive. While the cities in the east are majorly Russian speaking the countryside is ethic Ukrainian and Ukrainian speaking. Don’t be duped by Putinist propaganda.
Given the threat of an insurgency as well as of NATO arming whatever is left of Ukraine, he might decide that it makes more sense to take the entire country.