The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, spoke about the operation's significance of destroying an enemy air target in the Black Sea by a missile strike from the Magura V5 unmanned offshore platform during the United News telethon.

"This is a truly historic operation - it is the first time in the world that this has happened. Previously, we had shot down russian air targets several times during attacks. Still, they somehow managed to reach the coastline, some to airfields. Today, for the first time, a helicopter was shot down - it fell into the water. That is, the destruction of an aerial target over the Black Sea has been recorded," he said.

The head of Ukrainian intelligence, who also heads the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, spoke about the process of releasing our prisoners from russian captivity.

"In 2024, thank God, we returned a slightly larger number of people from russian captivity than in 2023. I hope that we will have a similar upward trend in 2025, and eventually, we will get to the point where we will return everyone back. An all-for-all exchange is necessary," Kyrylo Budanov emphasized.

The general also assessed the fall of the kremlin-backed dictatorial regime of Bashar al-Assad, pointing out that changes in Syria could be significant for Ukraine's interests.

The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine expressed cautious optimism about 2025 while emphasizing that winning the war for freedom should be the responsibility of every citizen.

"We are not just waiting but doing everything that needs to be done. For victory to come, it must become the business of every person, and not as some people think that someone else should do something. If you personally do everything for victory, it will come. We believe in victory, so I am sure we will achieve it. I propose to do this in 2025," Kyrylo Budanov said.

For more assessments and comments, including the participation of the DPRK military in the war against Ukraine, the ability of the aggressor state to conduct hostilities given the state of their economy, and the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane by russia, listen and watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/mA6InzW9S4s.