Zelensky’s adviser said: “Russia is preparing for the maximum escalation.”

Danilov thought the matter could go quickly. “Russia is preparing for the maximum escalation,” he says. skynos. It gathers all the equipment and starts the military drills and drills. Moreover, it is not inconceivable that Vladimir Putin would approach this attack as he did on February 24, 2022, with an attack from the north, south, and east. We know that everything is still on the table. I can say that we are not ruling out any scenario in the next two or three weeks.

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According to Danilov, about half of the 320,000 Russian mobilizers would be deployed in that Russian offensive. The first half of them are already in Ukraine to replace fallen soldiers.

Bloody months

Therefore, the necessary preparations are currently being made in Ukraine. The fact that the country now enjoys much more support from Western allies than it did a year ago gives Danilov confidence. “These countries support and help us as much as they can.”

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And the counselor says that even with that support, it’s a very bloody few months ahead. “We have already gone through a very difficult period, but I am aware that the most important battles are still to come. They will happen this year, in two or three months. Those will be the defining moments of the war.”

fighter jet

And this immediately explains why the Ukrainians are so often demanding more and more heavy weapons from the West. Although the country would like to get more combat aircraft, Danilov stresses. Because Ukraine also has its own plans. “We have that and it’s clear to us what we need to do,” he says. The United States, the United Kingdom and other allies know what these plans are. But they must remain a secret.”

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The ultimate goal remains to recapture all territory from the Russian army. Crimea included. “We will win this anyway, especially with the support of the whole world.”

Conquer the terrain

Remarkably, Kirillo Budanov (37), the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, Washington Post He says very different things. He says it is “unlikely” that Russia will attack the north. “This will be nothing more than an attempt to scatter and divide our soldiers in Kyiv.” What will happen next? According to Budanov, Russia will focus on occupying more territory in eastern Ukraine, particularly the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.