“Until your president is inaugurated, they (the Russians – ed.) will try to seize as much territory as possible in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, perhaps in the hope of re-electing Donald Trump as president and approving their gains,” Budanov was quoted as saying. By American Daily.
Is a major Russian attack coming? Ukraine wants to thwart Putin's plan
To thwart these plans, Budanov intends to launch more cross-border attacks using Russian volunteers operating in Russia with HUR support, as well as using more drones to launch strikes outside the front lines. The general said: “We have proposed a plan to reduce Russia’s capabilities. It covers many targets, such as the arms industry, vital military facilities, airports, and command and control centers.”
He explained that the goal is to show that Vladimir Putin's regime is unable to protect the Russian population from the effects of the war against Ukraine. “When you are, for example, in St. Petersburg and only watch the war on TV, you will always support it. (…) But people start to get nervous when (an) object is attacked near their homes,” Budanov said. to explain.
General Budanov about Ukrainian soldiers in Africa
As head of the secret services, the general is always looking for new ways to make trouble for Putin and his forces. The Washington Post asked the head of HUR about rumors that some of his agents are in Africa, where they are fighting Wagner Group mercenaries. “We carry out such operations with the aim of reducing Russia's military potential wherever possible. Why should Africa be an exception?” Budanov answered.
“Putin became a victim of his own propaganda. They heated up their society, saying they were the strongest and most powerful in the world, and he himself began to believe it. But it turned out that their army was not as strong as they thought.” “The general pointed out.
Budanov was cautious in predicting how the war would end. He said he “wouldn't mind” Russia eventually disintegrating. However, he warned: “In their dreams, the Russians occupy all of Ukraine, and in our dreams we have a victory parade in Moscow. In other words, neither of these outcomes is likely,” the intelligence chief stressed.
“This war will continue as long as this regime remains in Russia,” Budanov said. The general stressed that “things may or may not change under the next regime, but there will be an opportunity.”
The Washington Post asked Budanov if he was concerned that if Trump was re-elected, he might try to force a peace deal. The general replied: “I have great respect for Trump’s character. There were nine cases in his life when he rose to the top, fell to the bottom, and then returned to the top.” But when it comes to any peace plan, “even someone like him will not be able to solve this issue in one day,” Budanov said.
