Russia is bringing new army models into Kherson because it prepares to defend town from any recent Ukrainian offensive, the pinnacle of Ukraine’s Protection Intelligence Company stated in an interview with Kyiv-based information web site Ukrainska Pravda.
Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov stated that, whereas Moscow was transferring injured individuals, money and the Russian-installed administrative authorities and monetary establishments out of town, it was placing extra troops in.
“[Russian bank] Promsvyazbank and different monetary constructions that the Russians introduced there are being taken out,” Budanov stated.
“They’re taking out money, [internet] servers, the so-called occupation authorities … All of the non-walking, significantly injured are being taken out, they’re making an attempt to discharge those that can stroll as quickly as attainable from hospitals … They create the phantasm that every part is misplaced,” added Budanov.
“And on the similar time, quite the opposite, they convey new army models there and put together the streets of town for protection.”
Budanov stated Moscow was appearing out of worry that Ukrainian troops may retake the important Kakhovka dam, which lies to the east of Kherson, and encircle its troops within the metropolis.
“They perceive that if we take at the least management over the Kakhovka dam … they should decide in a short time. Both [they will have to] very, in a short time go away town and get out, or they threat ending up in the identical scenario that our models in Mariupol discovered themselves in earlier,” he stated.
“Understanding all this, they’re making ready the bottom in order that, if crucial, they will get out of there in a short time. Nonetheless, they don’t seem to be making ready to depart now. They’re making ready to defend.”
Budanov repeated allegations that the Russians had “partially mined” the dam.
He stated he didn’t imagine Russian forces would fully destroy it, as a result of doing so would flood a lot of the Kherson area and lower off the water provide to annexed Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant.
“In different phrases, if you happen to make a whole destruction, then the situation is as follows. Are they prepared for it? I don’t assume so,” he stated.
