Ukraine’s Spy Chief Promises More Attacks on Crimea – The Moscow Times
Ukraine's military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview published Friday that Kyiv's attacks against Russian-annexed Crimea were set to intensify, adding that Moscow's economy was proving surprisingly resilient despite sanctions.
"In 2023, the first Ukrainian incursions took place in temporarily occupied Crimea," Budanov told the French daily Le Monde, adding: "And this is just the beginning."
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russia's Black Sea Fleet, based in Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula.
"The Russians have had to move everything in a hurry to the southeast," Budanov said, adding that Moscow was now trying to set up a naval base on the Black Sea coast of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
He acknowledged that the front lines were largely frozen in Ukraine.
"The very intensive use of attack drones has made both Russian and Ukrainian offensives impossible," he said, noting that "another factor has been the density of minefields, unprecedented since World War II."
Budanov said the resilience of the Russian economy surprised him and that the current Western sanctions were not enough to force the Kremlin to change its behavior.
"A certain Russian paradox surprised me. Everyone thought that Moscow had a strong army and a weak economy. It turns out that the opposite is true," he said.
"The economy may be weak, but the country is not starving, far from it. It could even last quite a long time at this rate," Budanov said, adding that sanctions should target Russia's main economic sectors and the entire financial system.
Signs of fatigue over the war in Ukraine might be increasing but Budanov urged the West to keep supporting Kyiv militarily.
"Those who think they are tired of Ukraine abroad will have to court Russians when they come to occupy their own territories," he said.
Budanov, who has led Ukraine's GUR military intelligence unit since 2020, accurately predicted that Russia would attack Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
He insisted that now was not the right time to negotiate with Russia.
"Negotiations begin when one or both parties have an interest," he said. "This is not the case."
Read the original:
Ukraine's Spy Chief Promises More Attacks on Crimea - The Moscow Times
- Binge, borrow and deal: Europe digs deep to buy U.S. arms for Ukraine - The Washington Post - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Putin may be miscalculating Trumps resolve on Ukraine - Atlantic Council - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Ukraine is now an indispensable security partner for the US and Europe - Atlantic Council - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Russia says it has captured two villages in Ukraine, Ukraine reports heavy fighting - Reuters - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Battles of the mind: drawing Ukraine in this endless war | Ella Baron - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Zelenskyys Anti-Corruption Climbdown: What It Means For Ukraine - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- School-leavers losing their lives for Russia in Putin's war with Ukraine - BBC - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Ukraine war briefing: Anti-corruption agencies endorse bill restoring their independence - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Five killed after Russia and Ukraine trade aerial bombardments - Sky News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- 4 people killed, multiple others injured in Russia and Ukraine as they trade aerial attacks - AP News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Russia, Ukraine truce talks overshadowed by new fighting - Vatican News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- What China really wants for Russia and Ukraine - The Hill - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- North Koreas military is being transformed on the battlefields of Ukraine so why is Seoul silent? - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- State Department OKs $322 million in proposed weapons sales to Ukraine - Military Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Israel, Ukraine To Hold Talks On Countering "Threats" Posed By Iran - NDTV - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- In Kyiv, Saar announces Israel-Ukraine strategic dialogue on Iranian threat - The Times of Israel - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war, as Zelensky moves to weaken anti-corruption agencies - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Zelenskyy faces outcry after signing a bill curbing Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies - NPR - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Russia and Ukraine to Renew Talks, but Peace Remains Elusive - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Russia and Ukraine Met Again. Heres Where the Peace Talks Stand - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine and Russia agree to new prisoner swap during brief peace talks - France 24 - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Kremlin says Putin open to peace with Ukraine only after Russias goals have been achieved - PBS - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap, but little other progress in Istanbul talks - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Bucks County man died a Ukraine war hero. He is not the only American on the frontlines - PhillyBurbs - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Russia and Ukraine Are No Closer to Peace After Trumps Threats - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Zelensky Faces Criticism in Ukraine Over Effort to Rein In Corruption Agencies - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Swarms of Russian drones attack Ukraine nightly as Moscow puts new emphasis on the deadly weapon - AP News - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Outrage in Ukraine as the government attacks anti-corruption watchdogs - The Economist - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The Ukraine war will shape the world - Financial Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- US Approves $322 Million Military Aid Package for Ukraine, Including HAWK Air Defense and Bradley Vehicles - UNITED24 Media - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Wartime Protests in Ukraine Target Zelensky for the First Time - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Zelensky: Ukraine and Russia to hold peace talks on Wednesday - BBC - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Faint Signs of Life Appear in Effort to Halt Ukraine War - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The Air Battle That Could Decide the Russia-Ukraine War - foreignpolicy.com - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine backlash grows after Zelensky strips anti-corruption bodies of independence - BBC - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine, Russia hold third round of peace talks in Istanbul, agree to another major prisoner exchange - The Kyiv Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine-Russia war latest: Prisoners of war return to Kyiv after Istanbul peace talks end in less than an hour - The Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trumps Name in the Epstein Files, and Rare Protests in Ukraine - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Saar begins diplomatic visit to Ukraine, expected to meet Zelensky - The Times of Israel - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Zelenskiy says Ukraine, Russia to hold peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday - Reuters - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Russia launches 42 drone strikes on Ukraine overnight, hours after agreeing to Istanbul peace talks - as it happened - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- US and Germany agree to deliver five Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Berlin says - Euronews.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trumps shift on Ukraine has been dramatic but will it change the war? | Rajan Menon - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Putin stalls. Trump changes his mind. Ukraine targets Moscow. Latest on the war. - USA Today - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Preparations to deliver Patriot missile systems to Ukraine under way, Natos top Europe commander says as it happened - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Swarms of Russian drones attack Ukraine nightly as Moscow puts new emphasis on the deadly weapon - ABC News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Why Putin keeps making the same Ukraine mistakes - Lowy Institute - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine Ups Its Arms Production, Asking Allies to Pay for It - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine Scrambling To Fight Against Growing Russian Shahed-136 Threat - The War Zone - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Jewish funders must refocus on Ukraine before its too late - eJewishPhilanthropy - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Zelenskyy renews offer to meet with Putin as officials say Russian attacks kill a child in Ukraine - AP News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine, Russia to resume peace negotiations hosted by Turkey - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine war briefing: Russia insists on sticking to its war demands amid Trump sanctions threat - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Kremlin says Putin is ready to discuss peace in Ukraine but wants to achieve goals - Reuters - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Russia says it favours new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them - Reuters - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Army deep dive into Russian tactics in Ukraine says global conflict with West will persist - Stars and Stripes - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Why Russia Is Gaining Ground in Ukraine - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine Has a Self-Inflicted Handicap in Its War for Survival - Bloomberg.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- EU Warns Ukraine Over New Law That Could Undermine Anti-Corruption Agencies - united24media.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ukraine offers Russia new peace talks next week - NBC News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- This is what Ukraine could do with US Tomahawk missiles - The Kyiv Independent - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Why are mentally ill soldiers being drafted in Ukraine? - dw.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Russia attacks Ukraine with more than 300 drones and missiles overnight - ABC News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ukraine war briefing: EU and UK increase sanctions on Russia as drone strike on Odesa kills one - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- EU hits Russian oil, shadow fleet with new sanctions over Ukraine war - Al Jazeera - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Genocide or tragedy? Ukraine, Poland at odds over Volyn massacre of 1943 - Al Jazeera - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ukraine proposes renewed peace talks - as Zelenskyy urges Russia to 'stop avoiding decisions' - Sky News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia - Reuters - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ukraine proposes new round of peace talks with Russia next week - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance: What the United States Can Learn from Ukraine - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- These Russian clergy who said 'no' to Putin's war in Ukraine are paying a price - National Catholic Reporter - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Proposed Meeting With Russia Next Week - Bloomberg.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ukraine offers its front line as test bed for foreign weapons - Reuters - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Ukraine war briefing: US moving with haste to enable weapons shipments to Kyiv, says Washington - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Ukraine appoints new prime minister in major government reshuffle - Al Jazeera - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Russia says Trump's new weapons pledge a signal for Ukraine to abandon peace efforts - Reuters - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump's NATO deal to arm Ukraine wins over GOP skeptics - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump Sends Weapons to Ukraine: By the Numbers - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Patriot Deliveries To Ukraine Ramping Up, Others Being Delayed - The War Zone - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Top NATO commander rushing to deliver fresh Patriots to Ukraine - Defense News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]