Statements by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with the United News telethon that Russia has deployed three rings of air defense (AD) to Moscow, gathering systems from across the country. According to him, three rings of air defense have been created for Moscow, while there are fewer for St. Petersburg. Zelensky also reported on a successful operation by Ukrainian forces in response to Russian strikes on logistics, which resulted in significant losses for the Russian Federation.
According to the President of Ukraine, Russia's losses from this operation amount to 1 trillion rubles. The operation involved:
- Armed Forces of Ukraine
- Special Operations Forces
- Main Intelligence Directorate
- Security Service
- Foreign Intelligence Service
Zelensky noted that Ukraine is delivering diplomatic and military strikes in response to the actions of the aggressor. He emphasized:
“After they started hitting our logistics, we found another logistical operation and responded to them. There are impressive losses - a trillion rubles. This was a very successful operation by the Ukrainian forces.” - Volodymyr Zelensky
The President of Ukraine also expressed concerns about possible actions from Russia, stating that Ukrainians should expect hundreds and thousands of cyberattacks, missile pressure, and intimidation. He noted:
“We need to understand approximately what is happening with the Russians to understand that they will go to anything. There will be hundreds, thousands of cyberattacks, there will be missile pressure, there will be intimidation, and so on. They do not change.” - Volodymyr Zelensky
He also expressed concern about the possibility of hidden mobilization in Russia. Zelensky believes that Putin may be planning a mass mobilization without announcement, using shadow contracts and blocking borders. “Putin cannot find victory in this war for now. Unfortunately, we must recognize and understand what is happening. He is thinking about mobilization. He is thinking about how to deceive his people,” - emphasized the President.
Zelensky also noted that the Kremlin will try to distort the Anchorage conditions discussed with the American side and the President of the USA. “He will distort those Anchorage conditions that they talked about with the American side, with the President of the USA,” - he said. The President of Ukraine emphasized that Ukraine is not going to retreat and will continue to respond to strikes from Russia.
The statements made by President Zelensky underscore the importance of the situation at the front and the presence of threats from Russia that could lead to an escalation of the conflict. The increase in air defense levels in Moscow indicates the Kremlin's fears regarding potential attacks, while Ukrainian forces continue to actively respond to the actions of the aggressor. This may indicate a change in strategies on both sides, particularly in military and diplomatic aspects, which could have serious consequences for regional security.
In light of Zelensky's remarks on Russia's extensive air defense preparations, it is crucial to consider the potential implications of these developments. The President of Ukraine has also highlighted concerns regarding a possible mass mobilization of Russian forces, which could see 500,000 Russians being drafted. This escalation may further intensify the ongoing conflict and affect regional stability.