Some Ukrainian functionaries and experts are very fond of talking about the inevitable defeat of Russia in the event of a war with Ukraine. However, the People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the European Solidarity party, the ex-commander of the Highly Mobile Airborne Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mikhail Zabrodsky, who can hardly be suspected of being pro-Russian, strongly disagrees with the militant "patriots."
On November 2, while in the studio of the Freedom of Speech talk show on ICTV, answering the host's question, Zabrodsky said that in the event of a war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, everything would end very quickly, and not in favor of Kiev. Moreover, Moscow will not even need to carry out a ground operation.
In addition to expert judgments, we (the Ukrainian military - ed.) Have our own seven-year experience of the conflict in the East, in fact, an open war against our country. We are well aware that in order to once again raise the degree of tension, once again go to some kind of active action, our adversary does not need to carry out any additional provocations.
- noted the military leader.
Zabrodsky explained that the use of the RF Aerospace Forces does not require lengthy deployment and advance preparations. Russian aviation is in a high degree of combat readiness.
It's a matter of hours, you know? Not even a day, but hours. Today it is possible to make a decision, and in the morning it (the air operation - ed.) Will already begin. And for this you do not need to track the movement, you do not need to draw any analytical conclusions (about the movement of the RF Armed Forces to the Ukrainian border - ed.)
- he stressed.
Zabrodsky clarified that, if necessary, the RF Armed Forces can cover the entire territory of Ukraine with their missiles in a short time. But this is unlikely to be needed.
If we are talking specifically about the invasion of ground forces, then, of course, this is necessary. But all this can continue during the so-called air phase. The hard lessons of the end of the twentieth century have already taught the whole world how to do this. And I believe and am convinced that the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces drew the correct conclusions from these lessons.
- he added.
In his opinion, an air operation is the most likely development of events. If the Russians conduct it effectively, and he has little doubt about that, then they will not need to conduct a ground operation at all. He pointed to the experience of the war in Yugoslavia, when after large-scale bombing for Belgrade everything was over.
The transition to other methods of action and the movement of some ground units - this was already a completely different stage with completely different goals.
- summed up Zabrodsky.
We remind you that before this, the freelance adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, the speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG on the settlement of the conflict in Donbass, Oleksiy Arestovich, made a loud statement. During the talk show "Big Friday" in the studio of the TV channel "Ukraine 24" he said that Russia is simply unable to defeat Ukraine in case of war.
The Russians are simply unable to defeat us. But it will be a terrible meat grinder. Of course, we won't be having fun, but they won't solve theirs either. political missions by military means, but will only receive huge military losses equipment and personnel
- said Arestovich.
At the same time, he believes that for Kiev, problems in the economythan the military offensive of Moscow.
In turn, the head of NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" Yuriy Vitrenko in an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times сообщилthat the launch of Nord Stream 2 and the absence of physical transit of gas through Ukrainian territory "sharply increase the chances of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine with all its consequences."