Russia has warned that Ukraine is planning an attack on Crimea as Vladimir Putin’s state media propagandists claim a “serious operation” is being planned.
Tass, a Kremlin-controlled news outlet, cited comments made by the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, in which he said previous attacks on Crimea were laying the groundwork for future plans.
Speaking on Ukrainian TV’s documentary titled ‘The War for the Sea’, Budanov said: “These are all preparations for a serious operation in Crimea.
“This is a test of our statements’ accuracy about the ways of approaching and leaving Crimea. This also makes a good message for the population that has been living under occupation for 10 years. Many of them believe that they have been forgotten.”
Crimea was annexed by Putin’s Russia in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed that his forces will not rest until Moscow’s forces are removed from the peninsula.
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He told the Italian-language Swiss public broadcaster RSI: “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you need to have the courage to negotiate. You are ashamed, but with how many deaths will it end? Negotiate in time, and look for some country to act as a mediator.
“Don’t be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse. Negotiation is never a surrender. It is the courage not to lead the country to suicide.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hit out at the comments on Sunday: “This is what the church is — it is together with people, not two and a half thousand kilometres away somewhere, virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy.”
