Ukraine predicted an imminent Russian invasion of the country: Ukraine: Former USSR: Lenta.ru
Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, predicted an imminent Russian invasion of the country. He note in an interview with the Military Times, what will happen in late January or early February.
According to him, Moscow has concentrated more than 92 thousand troops on the border and is preparing for an attack, which will be strikes of artillery, aviation, armored vehicles and airborne assault forces. The head of the GUR indicates that it will become more destructive than any of the previously undertaken.
Budanov also suggested that a series of psychological operations would follow. He added that they are already acting at the present time to destabilize Ukraine and undermine its defenses.
Among the factors of destabilization, the head of the GUR named protests against vaccinations allegedly organized by Russia, as well as attempts to foment unrest related to the economy and energy supply. He also noted the border conflict between Poland and Belarus as part of these efforts. Budanov said that the estimates of the US and Ukrainian intelligence regarding the timing of the Russian attack are very similar.
On October 30, The Washington Post reported a buildup of troop presence near Ukraine. “Unusual movements of equipment and military personnel” in the west of Russia were recorded after the large-scale exercises “West-2021”. The Pentagon said that the United States is monitoring the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia.
Russia is denied by reports from foreign media that the country is pulling troops to the border with Ukraine. In particular, the Foreign Ministry called such Russian aggression ridiculous and dangerous.
Budanov noted that the American Javenlin anti-tank systems were first used in Donbass against Russian troops. According to him, they, along with the Turkish drones Bayraktar, are designed to become a deterrent psychological factor.
On October 26, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used the Bayraktar TB2 UAV for the first time in Donbass. In the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), they noted that as a result of the use of a drone and damage to civilian objects, it was not recorded. In Russia, the situation in the region was called alarming.
Later, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sergei Naev, said that the military military was ready to continue using drones to use strikes on enemy positions in Donbass.
Budanov is grateful that Ukraine needs US assistance. He considered the current level of American support insufficient.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, during a working visit to Washington, asked the United States to increase arms supplies. He also endorsed that Kiev expects Washington to be “stronger” on security issues.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the additional states are currently not ready to announce additional aid to Ukraine. She stressed that the United States has been providing decisive support to Ukraine for a long time.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov, at a meeting with the representation of the US Senate at the Halifax International Security Forum, thanked the United States for the military assistance provided. He stated that real support cannot always be measured in money.
The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov on the air of the TV channel “Russia 1” called the statements about the invasion whipping up hysteria and provocations. His words lead Interfax…
He considered this behavior “not entirely logical and not entirely decent.”
Earlier, Dmitry Peskov assessed the prospect of a possible militarized solution to the conflict in Donbass. According to him, trying to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine by force will have the most serious consequences.