Russia is preparing new offensives, according to Ukraine intelligence: Zelenskyy
In his daily evening address on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian intelligence and open-source data indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war. Zelenskyy emphasized that there is no sign of Russia considering peace or diplomacy, but rather, there is evidence pointing towards the preparation for new offensive operations.
The address followed an overnight exchange of long-range cross-border drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of 364 “air attack vehicles,” including nine cruise missiles and 355 attack drones in the recent bombardment. Fortunately, all missiles and 288 drones were intercepted or neutralized in flight, with impacts observed in five regions and falling debris in 10 regions.
On the other hand, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 128 Ukrainian drones across 12 regions during the same period. These near-nightly cross-border strikes have become a recurring aspect of Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, which has lasted over three years without any signs of a ceasefire or peace deal. The attacks have been escalating in scale in recent months.
Over the weekend, Russia conducted what Ukrainian officials described as the largest aerial attack of the war, involving 367 drones and missiles that resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals. These incidents prompted former US President Donald Trump to criticize both Putin and Zelenskyy on social media, expressing his disapproval of the escalating violence.
Despite Trump’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed gratitude towards the US for assisting in organizing negotiations. However, Zelenskyy and his administration remain skeptical of Russia’s intentions due to the continuous massed strikes. Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia seems to be counting on a prolonged war, demonstrating a disregard for global peace efforts and diplomacy.
The new intelligence shared by Zelenskyy during his address underscores the urgent need for international intervention to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further bloodshed. The situation remains tense, with both sides showing no signs of backing down from the ongoing hostilities. It is crucial for diplomatic efforts to intensify in order to bring an end to the violence and restore peace to the region.
