NSDC Secretary: Russia preparing for offensive, active information measures as its first signs
The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksiy Danilov in his article ‘Putin’s Strategy 2023’ for Ukrainska Pravda, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
Danilov believes the Russian leadership did not abandon its maximalist goal of destroying Ukraine.
“Moscow wants to destroy Ukraine itself as a historical phenomenon: language, history, culture, bearers of Ukrainian identity. Total and absolute genocide. Total war of destruction. The Kremlin knows: otherwise, Russia itself will disappear as an unfinished remnant of the tyranny of the past, a country of evil and violence. To achieve his goal, Putin wants to inflict a military defeat on Ukraine, strategic in nature and consequences,” Danilov noted.
In his words, Russian commanders are concentrating resources, bringing up reserves, restoring combat capacity and seeking the most vulnerable areas of the Ukrainian front.
According to Danilov, the maximum objective for the Russian military is to break through Ukraine’s defense in operational directions, such as the south of Ukraine, complete the seizure of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, capture Kyiv as ‘Putin’s key fantasy’, and disrupt arms supply routes.
“Russia is preparing for the offensive, whose first sign, according to the established tactics, is the implementation of active information measures. Before tanks start firing, poisonous information gases are released, which consist of lies, manipulations, fakes and disinformation, activation of agents of the information front,” Danilov stressed.
In his word, the enemy wants to break the will of Ukrainians and sow distrust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“They want to intimidate us, as they cannot win on the battlefield. We need to remember this,” Danilov noted.
According to Danilov, Ukraine in February 2023 is completely different from that in February 2022. Now, the country has unprecedented global support, multibillion aid, and the West is united. Most importantly, there is the Ukrainian spirit of freedom, and the political nation has formed that tasted victory.
At the same time, Danilov believes that it is not yet time to relax, because there are many trials, blood, deaths and hard work ahead.
In his words, the enemy is strong and insidious. Russia still has missiles and tons of ‘military steel’ left. Russian troops are getting smarter, gaining experience and learning from their mistakes.
Nevertheless, Russia is doomed to lose. The historical mission of Ukraine is to finish off the chimera of the post-imperial formation, to destroy forever the very idea of imperial Russia. After that, Russia must become an ordinary national state, deprived of colonies, or get fragmented, Danilov mentioned.
“In order for the world to get rid of a global threat, Ukraine is paying the highest possible price – this is our sacrifice on the altar of freedom and democracy. We will stand, because our destiny is to be free!” Danilov concluded.
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