Ukrainian intel chief on threat of Russian offensive from north: 'There is no catastrophe, but it's impossible not to see problems'
Photo: Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov commented on the threat of a Russian offensive in northern Ukraine, considering the Kremlin's desire to mobilize an additional 300,000 Russians.
"If I start answering this question (about the Russian attack from the north, - ed.), we might provoke panic. Let's put it this way: there are problems, and they are tending to escalate," he said, adding that "there is no catastrophe, but it's impossible not to see the problems."
This response came after a journalist asked whether the Kremlin's plans to mobilize 300,000 Russians would affect the Russian offensive in the east and north in the coming months.
"You see, this situation is somewhat anecdotal to me. For two years, everyone was shouting that there would be an attack from the north, and we kept saying it wouldn't happen. Nothing happened. At the moment when we said there would be an attack from the north, everyone suddenly doubted it," Budanov replied.
He did not specify which northern directions were being discussed.
"I already told someone from the Western press: unfortunately, I don't have much good news this year," Budanov concluded.
Situation in northern Ukraine
According to the General Staff's report on the morning of July 13, the operational situation in the Volyn and Polissia directions remains unchanged. Meanwhile, Russia maintains a military presence at the borders with the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, attacking with sabotage and reconnaissance groups (SRGs) and shelling border areas.
In May, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov warned that, amid the new offensive in the Kharkiv region that began on May 10, Russia is preparing to open a front in the north.
