The Russian occupation army at the current stage of the war does not have a strategic reserve, and Russia's war resources may run out in two or three years.
This was stated by the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov in an interview with “The Economist”.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov reported that our country is currently preparing for Russian attacks on infrastructure facilities expected in the autumn-winter period.
“If they begin, they will receive an answer,” Kyrylo Budanov said.
Also, he presented the facts about the current situation of the Russian occupation army.
According to him, the first line of the aggressor’s defense on the south axis in Zaporizhzhia has been already breached in some places, and this is a reason for the Kremlin to worry.
The situation at the front has already forced Russia to use its insufficiently strong reserves, which the aggressor did not plan to use until the end of October.
“Contrary to the Russian Federation declares, it has absolutely no strategic reserve,” Kyrylo Budanov said.
For example, the 25th Russian combined army, which was deployed in the Lyman and Kupyansk region, is equipped with only 80% personnel and 55% equipment.
At the same time, Kyrylo Budanov admitted that the number of people that Russia can mobilize for war remains the only obvious advantage of the aggressor.
“Human resources in Russia, relatively speaking, are unlimited. The quality is low, but the quantity is sufficient,” Kyrylo Budanov said.
According to him, the Russian economy can stay afloat only until 2025, and the influx of weapons to the aggressor will run out in 2026.
“If everything is so fine and Russia has enough resources, why are they looking for them all over the world?”, explained the head of Ukrainian intelligence.
At the same time, the risk of running out of resources is also relevant for Ukraine.
“We are dependent on external players, and Russia is more dependent on itself,” Kyrylo Budanov said, adding that it is currently unclear how long the West will be able to maintain a sufficient supply of resources for Ukraine.
“No matter what they say, warehouses in west countries are not completely empty. As intelligence, we know about it very clearly”, noted the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.