Head of Ukrainian Intelligence: Putin has backed himself into a corner

What is known to Ukrainian intelligence about the actions of the Russians in the Donbass and Kherson, and about the mood prevailing in the Kremlin, Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, told NV .

There is only a week left until May 9, the Kremlin’s sacred “Victory Day”. Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, but the Russian Federation has not yet managed to win the battle for Donbass. Things are heading towards yet another disruption of the plans of the occupiers.

Against this background, it is important for the Ukrainian military to understand what to expect from the enemy?

Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, is systematically looking for answers to this question.

NV talked to the chief military intelligence officer to find out what is happening in the occupied Ukrainian lands and at the front, and also whether mobilization will be announced in the Russian Federation and how the Moscow dictator will sell the need for it to his own people.

The Russians have a very strong personnel shortage. Those persons [potential collaborators] on whom they staked before the war, in many cases did not justify themselves at all. Some people agreed to cooperate. But a rather small percentage of those who have done this are really capable of managing at least some area of the city. Therefore, the main problem is personnel shortage, - said Budanov.

The next question is: what do they want to create?

The Russian leadership has two ideas that they cherish. The first is the reconstruction of the Taurida province, which existed for a short time in the Russian Empire. This is the territory of Crimea, Kherson, partly Mykolaiv region and even a little Donetsk region and Zaporozhye, with the administrative center in the city of Simferopol. This is the idea they are pushing right now.

The second idea, which is not often heard, but it has a place, is the so-called Heavenly city. These are the Odessa region, the Kherson region, part of the Nikolaev region, the Dnieper and part of the Donetsk region. There was such a concept. Once again I say: this is a sick mind.