Russia will launch a major offensive in June to try to capture the entire Donbas, and the Kremlin’s will also be keenly focused on the November U.S. presidential election and its aftermath, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR), General Kyrylo Budanov, told the Washington Post.
“Until the inauguration of your (U.S.) president, they (Russia) will try to get as much as possible of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk,” perhaps hoping that re-elected President Donald Trump will approve their gains, the U.S. daily quotes Budanov as saying.
To thwart these plans, Budanov intends to carry out more cross-border attacks using Russian volunteers who operate in Russia with HUR support, as well as using more drones to strike beyond the front lines.
“We’ve offered a plan aimed at reducing Russian potential. It encompasses a lot of aspects, like the military industry… critical military targets, their airfields, their command-and-control posts,” the general said.
To thwart these plans, Budanov intends to carry out more cross-border attacks using Russian volunteers who operate in Russia with HUR support, as well as using more drones to strike beyond the front lines.
“We’ve offered a plan aimed at reducing Russian potential. It encompasses a lot of aspects, like the military industry… critical military targets, their airfields, their command-and-control posts,” the general said.
The goal is to show that Vladimir Putin’s regime is unable to protect the Russian population from the consequences of the war against Ukraine, he explained.“When you’re sitting, say, in St. Petersburg and you’re seeing the war only on TV, you will always be supportive… But people start to get nervous when some facility [is attacked] near their house,” Budanov explained.
As head of the special services, the general is always looking for new ways to cause trouble for Putin and his forces. "The Washington Post" asked the HUR chief about rumors that some of his agents are in Africa, where they are fighting Wagner Group mercenaries.
“We conduct such operations aimed at reducing Russian military potential, anywhere where it’s possible,” he said. “Why should Africa be an exception?” Budanov replied.
“He became a victim of his own propaganda,” Budanov said. “They overheated their society… saying that they’re the most mighty and all-powerful in the world, and he started believing that himself. But it turned out their military is not as powerful as they thought.” the general pointed this out.
According to Budanov, Putin made a “strategic mistake” by starting a war against Ukraine. “But Russians recover fast, and that’s a fact that you should keep in mind. They have proved that dozens of times. We should not underestimate this characteristic,” he noted.
Budanov was cautious in making predictions about how the war would end. He said he "wouldn’t mind" the eventual breakup of Russia. However, he warned: “In Russian dreams, they have occupied all of Ukraine, and in our dreams, we have a victory parade… into Moscow,” emphasized the intelligence chief.
“This war will be ongoing while this regime remains in place in Russia,” he said. “Under the next regime, it might change or not, but there will be a window of opportunity.”
The Washington Post questioned Budanov about his fears that Trump might try to impose a peace agreement if re-elected. “I have a huge respect for the personality of Trump.”
But regarding a Trump peace plan, he said, “Even a person like him won’t be able to resolve this issue in one day.”
As head of the special services, the general is always looking for new ways to cause trouble for Putin and his forces. "The Washington Post" asked the HUR chief about rumors that some of his agents are in Africa, where they are fighting Wagner Group mercenaries.
“We conduct such operations aimed at reducing Russian military potential, anywhere where it’s possible,” he said. “Why should Africa be an exception?” Budanov replied.
“He became a victim of his own propaganda,” Budanov said. “They overheated their society… saying that they’re the most mighty and all-powerful in the world, and he started believing that himself. But it turned out their military is not as powerful as they thought.” the general pointed this out.
According to Budanov, Putin made a “strategic mistake” by starting a war against Ukraine. “But Russians recover fast, and that’s a fact that you should keep in mind. They have proved that dozens of times. We should not underestimate this characteristic,” he noted.
Budanov was cautious in making predictions about how the war would end. He said he "wouldn’t mind" the eventual breakup of Russia. However, he warned: “In Russian dreams, they have occupied all of Ukraine, and in our dreams, we have a victory parade… into Moscow,” emphasized the intelligence chief.
“This war will be ongoing while this regime remains in place in Russia,” he said. “Under the next regime, it might change or not, but there will be a window of opportunity.”
The Washington Post questioned Budanov about his fears that Trump might try to impose a peace agreement if re-elected. “I have a huge respect for the personality of Trump.”
But regarding a Trump peace plan, he said, “Even a person like him won’t be able to resolve this issue in one day.”
Source: The Washington Post, PAP
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