Kwam net op The War Zone site terecht. Hier stond een
interview van Vrijdag met de Oekraïense "Intel Chief" Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov.
Een paar highlights (voor mij dan tenminste) uit dit interview:
Over KhersonQ: How many Russian forces are in Kherson right now?
A: So the combat component - the units that can pose any danger to us with our operation - is about 40,000. So it's the grouping. Kherson [City] is in the middle of that grouping. Those are troops in Kherson and also just in areas of the western bank [of the Dnipro RIver] and also troops that support actions of the western bank but that are stationed on the eastern bank.
Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant DamQ: You’ve talked about the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant Dam being mined in April. Do you really think the Russians will blow that up?
A: In our assessment, if such a decision is taken, they will only blow up the road that goes over the dam to make it impossible to use for our vehicles and also the water locks of the dam which will cause only a partial ruination of the facility.
BelarusQ: Let’s turn to Belarus. Ukraine just bolstered troops along its northern border. Can you provide any further details about why and how concerned are you about a Russian attempt to attack perhaps not Kyiv, but western Ukraine to cut off supplies pouring in from allies?
A: Cutting off those supply lines from the west is a strategic goal. And I could say a cherished dream of the Russian Federation. Speaking of Russian military activities in Belarus, the presence of the Russian military in Belarus currently is not that high. Only about 4,300 servicemen are there. And they are very limited. That grouping is very limited in heavy weapon systems and the majority - about 80% of the grouping - are mobilized personnel. So summarizing the abovementioned, I can say that in the current stage there is not a threat of invasion from Belarus. But that situation could change very fast when Russia loses Kherson. That capable grouping in Kherson after the withdrawal from Kherson will partially be relocated to the Zaporizhzhia direction but part of them might move northwards to Belarus and create a threat there. So we have to be cautious about it.
KrimQ: In terms of Crimea, when do you think Ukraine might be launching an offensive there and how long do you think it would take to take Crimea back?
A: So this is only happening by military force and that will happen next year.
KharkivQ: Can you talk about the Kharkiv counteroffensive? Is that slowing down?
A: So in the Kharkiv direction, we're standing actually at the border with Russian Federation and we're not moving into the territory of the Russian Federation.
Invloed Russische mobilisatieQ: How is the mobilization of so many untrained and poorly supplied troops affecting the battle from your point of view?
A: It doesn't have a significant influence. We have to give them credit that they've managed to mobilize about 220,000 troops. But you were right to say that they're poorly trained and poorly equipped. That is why it has no significant influence.
Modder....Q: How much difference is mud playing in current combat operations?
A: It's a problematic issue. At a stage, it played in our favor but it also played against us. For example, currently, for wheeled equipment, the terrain is not passable. And you cannot even move tracked vehicles across the terrain for a few days right after the rain. That is why currently it is both sides that are unable to conduct active actions.
Kamikaze dronesQ: Do the Russians have their own ability to develop and produce loitering munitions?
A: Yes, at the very beginning of the conflict on the 24th of February and so forth, there were a few cases recorded of the application of a Russian loitering munition called Kub. And also recently there was a case when the creation of another system called Lancet was detected. But those uses [aren't massive] because critical Russian defense industry is unable to secure the production of those weapon systems in enough quantities.
The EndQ: How does this end? What does victory look like for Ukraine?
A: It's very simple. At the first stage, we'll reach our borders of 1991 [when Ukraine gained its independence from Russia] And we'll consider that a good sign and a good opportunity to finish the war.
Q: When do you think that will happen? When do you think you’ll be able to restore the 1991 borders?
A: Next year.
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Excuses.
Dit topic is gesloten.