Kremlin seeks to take control of numerous Russian paramilitary groups

The leadership of the Russian Federation aims to take control of numerous paramilitary groups in order to bring the so-called air force under the control of the Russian General Staff.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said this in an interview with Nick Shifrin, a journalist for the American PBS TV channel.

"The Russians are trying to create a certain main organization that will manage and command all these paramilitary formations, because, obviously, there is no unity among them now," Budanov said.

He confirmed that Russia is currently capable of mobilizing 20 to 22 thousand soldiers every month.

According to the intelligence chief, Ukraine's top priority is to liberate the temporarily occupied territories.

Commenting on the statements of the US and NATO representatives about the delivery of weapons promised to Ukraine for the counteroffensive, including 2,000 armored vehicles, the DIU chief emphasized the importance of the counteroffensive, the main goal of which is to liberate all Ukrainian territories.

The general agreed with the assessments of US officials who hope that Ukraine will at least be able to improve its positions along the front line to defeat Russian military logistics in the occupied Crimea and deep in Donbas.

When asked whether his predictions about Russia's inability to prolong the war and its likely collapse were too optimistic, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence said that time would tell and that he remained in his position.

Separately, Budanov assured that anyone who committed war crimes or crimes against humanity in Ukraine, including very egregious ones, such as the group killing of civilians and children, will be found and destroyed in any part of the world. According to him, Ukraine has enough of its own forces and means to do so.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 01/05/2023