Budanov explains what could make Russians come out to "Maidan"
There are fierce disagreements between Russia's military, political and business elites over the war in Ukraine.
The head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
"There is a misunderstanding. There are also contradictions. There are severe contradictions. But Russia is not a society where there will be any changes, as in our country: if you don't like it, you go out, say something, they answer you, then someone is taken to the Maidan. It doesn't work that way there," he said.
When asked what events can make Russians take to the streets to protest against the government, Budanov noted that if we look at the history of Russia at different stages of its existence and analyze what led people to riots, uprisings, rallies against the government, in all cases it was military defeats.
"And one of the very few cases is the case of 1993. It was based on slightly different principles. But there can be nothing else. Military failures will lead to a search for the guilty. The search for the guilty will lead to further events. But we should not hope that the Russian people will come out," the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate clarified.
When asked about representatives of the military-political stratum and business in Russia, such as Nikolai Patrushev, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Naryshkin, Valery Gerasimov, German Gref, etc., he noted that not all of them were in favor of the invasion of Ukraine.
"Only Shoigu was in favor (of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine - ed.), while Gerasimov was in favor. Bortnikov was the last one to hold out, he was against it, but for some personal reasons two weeks before the start he abruptly changed his mind and said: "No, everything is fine there, we are ready." And a few other functionaries. That's it," Budanov said.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a conflict is brewing within the top military leadership of the Russian Federation due to significant losses and lack of real achievements at the front.