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russia Lacks the Potential for a Serious Offensive Anywhere in Ukraine – the Main Points from the Interview with Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Chief

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The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in Bakhmut, Donetsk region in December 2022 / Photo credit: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in Bakhmut, Donetsk region in December 2022 / Photo credit: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

The head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov talked about the current state of military affairs in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of supporting allies and partners on the way to an armed victory over russian aggression

An extensive interview with Major General Kyrylo Budanov was published by YahooNews on Saturday, May 6.

"As of today, russia has no military, economic, or political potential to create another attempt for a serious offensive anywhere in Ukraine," stated the Chief of Defense Intelligence.

Read more: ​Russian Military Drops Prohibited Phosphorus and Incendiary Ammunition on Bakhmut

At the same time, according to the Chief, the aggressor state of russia is still capable of carrying out serious defensive operations, and this is a problem that Ukraine will have face to.

Defense Express, russia Lacks the Potential for a Serious Offensive  Anywhere in Ukraine, the Main Points from the Interview with Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Chief
Chief of Ukrainian Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, center / Photo credit: Yurii Stefanyak/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Kyrylo Budanov also reported that russia is trying to accumulate a certain supply of missiles to disrupt the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

However, “the truth is that they have taken their stocks almost to zero”, said the head of Ukrainian intelligence.

Kyrylo Budanov compared the enemy mercenaries called PMCs (private military companies) to regular army soldiers of the aggressor, stating that the Wagner PMCs have much better training. The leader of the Wagner, Prigozhin, uses huge losses of his mercenaries in the war to conduct a political campaign:

“His political future is directly linked to his physical survival because there are too many forces in the russian federation who want to eliminate him. He obviously will try to defend himself because for him it’s not even an issue of exile or prison; it’s an issue of life and death,” said Kyrylo Budanov.

Defense Express, russia Lacks the Potential for a Serious Offensive Anywhere in Ukraine,  the Main Points from the Interview with Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Chief
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of PMC Wagner against the background of his fighters / Open source photo

When asked by a journalist about the alleged involvement of Ukrainian special services in the elimination of a number of russian public apologists for the war against Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov refused to confirm or deny this information:

“Don’t continue with that topic. All I will comment on is that we’ve been killing russians and we will keep killing russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine.”

Among other things, Kyrylo Budanov acknowledged that the russian federation knows how to operate in the information space, so even an imaginary missile attack on the Kremlin would be presented as a "victory". In particular, Russia often resorts to provocations, one of which is expected on May, 9.

Defense Express, russia Lacks the Potential for a Serious Offensive  Anywhere in Ukraine, the Main Points from the Interview with Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Chief
Drone attacks Kremlin on May 3, 2023 / Open source photo
Read more: ​Russian Occupiers Prepare for Circular Defense of Mariupol while Ukrainian Resistance Gains Momentum in Crimea