Russia is bringing new navy models into Kherson because it prepares to defend town from any contemporary Ukrainian offensive, the top of Ukraine’s Protection Intelligence Company stated in an interview with Kyiv-based information web site Ukrainska Pravda.
Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov stated that, whereas Moscow was transferring injured individuals, money and the Russian-installed administrative authorities and monetary establishments out of town, it was placing extra troops in.
“[Russian bank] Promsvyazbank and different monetary constructions that the Russians introduced there are being taken out,” Budanov stated.
“They’re taking out money, [internet] servers, the so-called occupation authorities … All of the non-walking, critically injured are being taken out, they’re making an attempt to discharge those that can stroll as quickly as attainable from hospitals … They create the phantasm that every little thing is misplaced,” added Budanov.
“And on the identical time, quite the opposite, they carry new navy models there and put together the streets of town for protection.”
Budanov stated Moscow was appearing out of worry that Ukrainian troops may retake the crucial Kakhovka dam, which lies to the east of Kherson, and encircle its troops within the metropolis.
“They perceive that if we take no less than management over the Kakhovka dam … they must decide in a short time. Both [they will have to] very, in a short time depart town and get out, or they threat ending up in the identical scenario that our models in Mariupol discovered themselves in earlier,” he stated.
“Understanding all this, they’re making ready the bottom in order that, if essential, they will get out of there in a short time. Nevertheless, they aren’t making ready to go away now. They’re making ready to defend.”
Budanov repeated allegations that the Russians had “partially mined” the dam.
He stated he didn’t consider Russian forces would fully destroy it, as a result of doing so would flood a lot of the Kherson area and lower off the water provide to annexed Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant.
“In different phrases, in case you make an entire destruction, then the situation is as follows. Are they prepared for it? I don’t suppose so,” he stated.
