Ukrainian intelligence talks about Russia's `most expensive operation`. 0
(Dan Tri) – Ukraine’s intelligence chief accused Russia of organizing a costly campaign to cause division within Kiev.
Head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency Kyrylo Budanov (Photo: USCC).
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence agency, accused Russia of organizing a campaign called `Maidan 3` with the main goal of sowing doubts about the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government within the country.
According to him, this was `Russia’s most expensive campaign`, but it was unsuccessful because the Ukrainian side clearly understood what Moscow had in mind.
He accused Russia of planning to create a situation in which both President Volodymyr Zelensky and decision-making officials in Ukraine in general are viewed with suspicion by the people.
This is not the first time that the Ukrainian government has talked about the term `Maidan 3`.
Last November, President Zelensky accused Russia of trying to sow division in Ukrainian society, creating `chaos` in the country.
According to the Ukrainian leader, Russia is accused of planning to spread false information in the `Maidan 3` campaign.
`For them (Russia), Maidan is a coup so this campaign is understandable,` he said, accusing Russia’s ultimate goal of finding a way to make Mr. Zelensky lose his position.
Russia has so far not commented on Mr. Zelensky’s accusations, nor Mr. Budanov’s recent accusations.
The 2004 protest in Maidan Square was peaceful and successfully overturned Mr. Yanukovich’s victory in that year’s presidential race.
On the other hand, the 2014 protests occurred while Mr. Yanukovich was still in office, forcing him to leave the country and resign after violence broke out.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its third year, but the prospect of negotiations between the two sides continues to be deadlocked.
Moscow has repeatedly declared its willingness to negotiate, but on the condition that Ukraine must acknowledge `new territorial realities`.
The new reality that Moscow refers to is the annexation of territories including Zaporizhia, Kherson, Lugansk, Donetsk into Russia in October 2022 and the annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014 after referendums.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials announced that peace talks will only take place when Russia withdraws all troops from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
In addition, Ukraine wants all peace negotiations to be based on the 10-point `peace formula` that President Zelensky proposed late last year, including the provision that Russia must compensate for the fighting.
Ukraine recently urged the West to support more weapons in the context that they are running out of weapons to deal with Russia after more than 2 years of fighting.
