No immediate threat of another Russian offensive toward Kyiv - commander

That’s according to Oleksandr Pavliuk, the Commander of Kyiv Defense Forces, who spoke with Suspilne, Ukrinform reports.

"At this moment there is no immediate threat (Russian repeated attack on Kyiv - ed.). The Russians do not have the appropriate forces and means at their disposal. There are certain groups on the territory close to the border between Belarus and Ukraine but, given our potential, it is unlikely that they will succeed," he said.

According to the Commander, all that is currently being done by Russia in Belarus aims to contain the Ukrainian forces on the northern border so that they cannot be deployed to the eastern part of the country.

"We are considering possible options for aggression in the coming months. But to this end, they would need to transfer the appropriate amount of forces and means, which are now being replenished by Russia at their training grounds. So far, we do not see such intentions, but we are preparing," the official said.

Separately, answering the question of why the officials had previously said that an attack on the capital on February 24, 2022 was seen as unlikely, Pavliuk clarified that the estimates were based on the forces and means that the Russians had accumulated by that time.

"The grouping they created had the potential to go on an offensive in the east of Ukraine. The fact that they attacked from different directions simultaneously was about them assuming we would be unprepared and unable to defend in all areas. They underestimated our potential. But anyway, we did confront them. At the same time, we were primarily preparing in the east," he said.

The commander said this was a new experience, and that Ukraine’s forces managed to quickly create a powerful defense line around the capital and to set up a mechanism for the interaction of various forces.

Answering the question about the turning point in the defense of the capital, the official said that it was the battle of Moshchun.

"The Russians had a bridgehead there. When their group was destroyed there, we realized that we had a chance to destroy the entire grouping accumulated around Kyiv. Our active operation then began to sever their logistical routes," he said.

As reported, on January 6, Pavliuk said that on the northern border of Ukraine, the leadership of the 120th Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces and subordinate units are undergoing training as part of the group of forces tasked with defending Kyiv.