Фото: president.gov.ua
Ukraine is preparing a response to Russia’s plans for an offensive in the Chernihiv–Kyiv direction. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has been instructed to prepare measures concerning Belarus if Russia uses it to expand the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered an increase in the Armed Forces of Ukraine presence in the Chernihiv–Kyiv direction.
“We thoroughly analysed available intelligence data regarding Russian planning of offensive operations in the Chernihiv–Kyiv direction. For every possible scenario of enemy action, we are preparing responses if the Russians truly decide to expand their aggression. Our forces in this direction will be reinforced”, Zelenskyy said after a meeting of the Staff on May 20.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry was tasked with preparing measures regarding Belarus, while Ukrainian intelligence agencies received corresponding “non-public tasks”.
“We are also reviewing the possibilities of our foreign policy activity. I instructed Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to prepare additional measures of diplomatic pressure regarding Belarus, which could be used by Russia for such an expansion of the war. Corresponding non-public tasks have also been assigned to Ukrainian intelligence services”, Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has also received information about Russian plans to mobilise 100,000 people. Kyiv believes it will not be possible to conduct hidden mobilisation and therefore expects “Russian political decisions of a different format, including those similar to recent decisions concerning Moldova’s Transnistrian region”.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said Russia was actively negotiating with Aliaksandr Lukashenka in an effort to draw Belarus deeper into the war. According to Ukraine, Russia is considering plans for operations from Belarusian territory against Ukraine or one of the NATO countries. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi described the threat of an offensive from Belarusian territory as real.