Ukraine war: Director of military intelligence ‘optimistic’ about Russia’s defeat says war ‘will end by the end of this year’ | World News
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service said that the war with Russia is going very well, it will reach a turning point in mid-August and end at the end of the year.
That is the most accurate and optimistic prediction by a senior Ukrainian official to date.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Major General Kyrylo Budanov also said that a coup to remove Vladimir Putin is underway in Russia and that the Russian leader is suffering from severe cancer.
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The general’s office was dark and filled with war and espionage supplies, sandbags stacked on the windowsills, machine guns piled on the floor, and a spare rifle magazine on a desk. Use as a paperweight.
He is too young to lead his country’s military intelligence agency at only 36 years old and speaks with dry precision in his dealings.
He shows very little emotion, only smiling once when he says in English: “I’m optimistic.”
General Budanov correctly predicted when the Russian invasion would happen when others in his government openly doubted it, and he now says he is confident in predicting its conclusion.
“The breaking point will be in the second part of August.
“Most of the active combat operations will end by the end of the year.
“Therefore, we will regenerate Ukraine’s power over all the territories that we have lost including Donbas and Crimea.”
According to him, Russia’s tactics have not changed despite the turn to the east, and Russia is suffering heavy losses although he will not be attracted by Ukrainian casualties.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov
Russia is just a ‘crowd of armed men’
He said he was not surprised by Russia’s defeat in the war.
“We know everything about our enemies. We know about their plans almost as if they were being carried out.
“Europe sees Russia as a big threat. They fear its aggression.
“We have been fighting against Russia for eight years and we can say that this well-publicized Russian power is a legend.
“It’s not as powerful as this. It’s a bunch of people with weapons.”
Russian forces have almost been pushed back to the border around Kharkiv, he said, and a recent attack on forces further south trying to cross Siverskyy Donets has caused considerable damage. tell.
Its consequences are caught in the impressive aerial photos.
General Budanov said: “I can confirm that they suffered heavy losses in men and armor and I can say that when the artillery attacks occurred, many crews abandoned their equipment. their own”.
Image of burned vehicles on the banks of the River Siverskyy Donets, eastern Ukraine
‘Cannot prevent coup’
General Budanov also told Sky News that failure in Ukraine would lead to the removal of Russia’s leader and the disintegration of the country.
“It will eventually lead to a change of leadership of the Russian Federation. The process has already been started and they are proceeding that way.”
Does that mean a coup is underway?
“Yes,” he replied.
“They’re moving this way and are unstoppable.”
He confirmed that Mr Putin was in a “very bad mental and physical condition and he was very sick”.
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The Russian leader has cancer and other diseases, he said.
He dismissed suggestions that he was spreading propaganda as part of an information war and was certain of his claims.
“It’s my business, it’s my business, if it weren’t for me, who would know about this?”
Ukrainian officials had questioned Mr. Putin’s mental and physical health before and stated firmly about eventual victory, but as of this interview, no interviews have been made. specific and gave a timeline to win, a sign of their growing confidence on the battlefield.
