Russian invasion
Kiev’s military intelligence continues to hope for German Taurus
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Olexander Syrskyj (l) and the Commander of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service HUR Kyrylo Budanov talk during an award ceremony in Kiev. photo
© -/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP/dpa
In Ukraine, military intelligence service Budanov describes the situation in the fight against Russia’s war of aggression as difficult in an ARD interview. More Western help is needed to avert a catastrophe.
The Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov continues to hope for the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles in the fight against the Russian invasion, which Germany has so far rejected. “The Taurus would certainly make our lives easier,” said the head of the Military intelligence service HUR in an interview with ARD. “To hit command centers, to hit some very important targets, it’s an excellent weapon.” The Russian bridge to the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea also remains an important goal for Ukraine: “The bridge is heavily guarded and defended. But everyone is working on this issue.”
In the published interview, Budanov also confirmed information that Ukraine is expecting a new Russian offensive in the spring or summer – especially in the Donbass region. To achieve this, the country, which has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two years, needs above all more artillery systems and ammunition. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj once again called for a strengthening of air defense. Specifically, he named 25 US Patriot anti-aircraft systems to secure Ukraine’s airspace.
According to the ARD interview, HUR boss Budanow did not want to comment on specific perspectives of the war. “The situation is quite difficult, but it is under control,” he said. Unlike many military experts, he also believes a Ukrainian counteroffensive is possible this year. At the same time, he said that without long-term support from the West, things would be “catastrophically difficult” for Ukraine. Budanov also expects a significant upswing in the defense industry in Europe and trusts the EU to compensate for a possible lack of US aid.