Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, believes that the Russian economy will last only until 2025, he said in an interview with The Economist.
The flow of weapons will dry up in 2026, “perhaps earlier.” Vladimir Putin’s talks with North Korea are an obvious indication of his problems.
"If everything is fine and Russia has enough resources, why are they looking for them all over the world? The answer is obvious. There is nothing to extract any more," he said.
Budanov added that at the same time, Russia has an advantage in the number of personnel.
"Human resources in Russia are, relatively speaking, unlimited. The quality is low, but the quantity is sufficient," he said.
At the same time, the DIU chief noted that the Russians are already forced to use reserves that they had not previously planned to deploy until October.
Budanov dismissed rumors that Western partners are less willing to support Ukraine at the current level and that ammunition supplies are running out.
"It is still absolutely undecided how long the West will be able to maintain a sufficient supply of resources to us. Warehouses in Western countries are not completely empty. No matter what anyone says," he said, citing intelligence information.
Last week, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia for talks with the Russian president. The United States warned that they would talk about supplying the Russians with weapons and ammunition to use in the war against Ukraine.
Budanov said that the DPRK has been supplying ammunition to Moscow for a month and a half. South Korea said it had known about these supplies for a long time.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, General Mark Milley, said that the DPRK could increase supplies of Soviet-era 152-mm artillery shells to Russia.