Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, said Russia had the resources to "continue this war for a long time," but the Kremlin's initial plans for a quick occupation were thwarted. He stated in an interview with the Radio Svoboda project "Crimea. Realities".
"We have completely ruined the Kremlin's intentions for the rapid occupation and destruction of Ukraine, especially the destruction of Ukrainian statehood. This whole operation itself, no matter what anyone tells you, as the head of intelligence, I openly and frankly declare: this is an operation of destroying statehood. Not even the state, but statehood. And these plans were completely thwarted. Now there is a completely open phase of the war. Everyone is exhausted," - Budanov said.
"The Russian side, don't trust anyone, they are quite exhausted. Yes, they have the resources to continue this war for quite a long time. However, no one but the two people there, Putin and Shoigu, are thrilled with this military adventure. And the longer it continues, the more problems there will be in Russia,"- he added.
According to Budanov, 13 battalion tactical groups of the Russian army were destroyed in Ukraine. There are still 86,000 Russian servicemen still engaged in certain activities.
Separately, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine emphasized that the AFU will liberate "the entire territory of Ukraine".
"We will liberate the entire territory of Ukraine. If anyone thinks that we will leave the occupied territories, it will not happen," - he said.
In the same interview, Budanov stated that the occupants are trying to provide water to Crimea, but "the water just can't go by itself".