The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate noted that Ukraine will help Russian volunteers ‘as much as possible,’ but emphasized that this operation is an internal matter.
“Russian volunteers, who are currently engaged in combat operations in the border regions of the Russian Federation, are unlikely to stop anytime soon, and they have the strength to continue this operation”. This was stated by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, during a telethon broadcast.
The journalist asked whether Ukrainian intelligence is aware of the plans of the Russian insurgents that can be disclosed.
“As far as we know, they do not intend to stop anytime soon and will do everything they can within their power. And as we have seen recently, they have enough strength to at least achieve limited… [indistinct],” said Budanov.
He emphasized that Russian volunteers have been helping Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale invasion and are fighting “quite well.”
“We will try to help them as much as possible,” Budanov said.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate is convinced that the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Legion of Freedom of Russia, and the Siberian Battalion are already beginning to have a certain degree of subjectivity, and they can no longer be called groups – they are already a “force.” He predicts that various other Russian opposition movements and associations will join them – both those within Russia and those abroad who want to return.
At the same time, Budanov emphasized that this operation is the Russians’ resolution of their internal affairs.
“Yes, we may prefer some more than others, and some less than others. But still, both the ones and the others are Russians,” he said.