The head of Ukrainian intelligence talks about attacks on Russian soil

Sep 10, 2023

World
The head of Ukrainian intelligence talks about attacks on Russian soil

Kyiv [Ukraine], September 10: On September 9, Ukrainian military intelligence leaders revealed the goals of attacks on Russian territory and estimated the number of Russian soldiers deployed in Ukraine.
According to AFP today, September 10, Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory have increased in recent months and Kyiv has also spoken out about such attacks. Previously, Russia accused Ukraine of increasing drone and missile attacks deep inside Russian territory in recent months, according to RT.
"All (targets) are enterprises belonging to the military-industrial complex. This is the difference that distinguishes us from the Russians," Director of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said during the appearance. rarely appeared in public at a meeting in Kyiv on September 9, according to AFP.
Mr. Budanov affirmed that the attacks caused many businesses and high-tech machinery to "burn, but people did not suffer any damage." Meanwhile, Russian officials have reported civilian casualties from several Ukrainian attacks, according to AFP.
Mr. Budanov also said that a Russian production site for chips used in Iskander missiles was recently attacked. According to Mr. Budanov, the explosions in Russia "have made society a little more alert, but they have not had a big impact."
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Ukrainian Military Intelligence VadymSkibitsky said on September 9 that Kyiv estimates that Russia has deployed more than 420,000 soldiers in areas that its forces control in eastern and southern Ukraine. According to him, this includes Crimea. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Mr. Skibitsky added that this number "does not include the Russian National Guard and other special units that maintain control over our territory."
Mr. Skibitsky also said that "drones deployed in Crimea were used to attack our ports of Izmail and Reni." These ports have been used as alternative export hubs, especially since the agreement protecting Black Sea grain exports expired on July 17.
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in the east and south in June but faced fierce resistance from Russian forces. Ukraine's military is also facing new attacks around Kharkiv province in the northeast, in areas that Ukrainian forces recaptured last year.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister GannaMalyar said that the Russian army is trying to disperse Ukrainian forces in the east "so that we cannot concentrate our forces around Bakhmut, where we are successfully advancing". Russian forces took control of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province in May after months of fierce fighting.
Ms. Malyar admitted that the Russian side is "strong, has more people and weapons". She estimated that Russian soldiers had fired "nearly 400,000 artillery shells" at Ukrainian positions on the eastern front in the past week, according to AFP.
There is currently no information about Russia's reaction to the above statements from the Ukrainian side.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper