As of today, the ground component of the enemy grouping deployed on the territory of Ukraine consists of approximately 470,000 servicemen. Additionally, there has been reinforcement on the eve of the "elections" of the troops covering the state border on the territory of the Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions of the Russian Federation, stated Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi.
"If we talk about what has changed during this time, it is the size of the grouping deployed on our territory. Currently, the ground component, the ground part of the grouping located on the territory of Ukraine, consists of approximately 470,000 servicemen. And this is only the ground component, I am not counting the aviation here, not counting the naval forces, which are also involved in carrying out operations, in striking tasks," said Skibitskyi in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Moreover, as the major general noted, a new component has appeared that was not present at the beginning of the aggression (it was represented only partially, by battalions) - the grouping of Rosgvardia troops.
"Currently, a Rosgvardia troops grouping is deployed in the temporarily occupied territories. This comprises almost 33,000 servicemen. These are the people who ensure the activities of the occupation authorities, the protection of strategic objects, and if necessary, they can perform defense tasks precisely in the temporarily occupied territories," Skibitskyi explained.
According to him, another change that has occurred over the past two years is the additional appearance of the so-called state border covering troops of the Russian Federation. They are deployed in the territory of three regions of Russia directly bordering Ukraine: Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk. The major general emphasized that this is associated with the fear of Russians that "we will be more active, carry out corresponding actions on the territory of the Russian Federation."
"Perhaps this is necessary: to move the war to the territory of Russia. They have concentrated a grouping of about 30,000 servicemen there. Recently, they have also been reinforced by units of the 116th brigade of Rosgvardia, which was transferred. Three battalions were transferred from our Mariupol to the territory of the Belgorod region. As they also admit, to ensure security and the conduct of elections for the perpetually living Putin. These are the changes that mostly occurred in the numerical strength of the ground component," the intelligence added.
Skibitsky also emphasized that an important change over the past two years is the isolation of the Black Sea Fleet, with all major enemy combat ships stationed in Novorossiysk.
"In Sevastopol, they can only come to replenish ammunition, reload, or, if necessary, when they are on combat duty. Otherwise, all the activity of the Black Sea Fleet is near the coast of Crimea or in the eastern part of the Black Sea. We have fully ensured the ability to control and strike at the Black Sea Fleet if it enters the northwestern part. And this has allowed us to restore the operation of the maritime corridor," he stressed.
Furthermore, over the past two years, many territories that Russia counted on from the very beginning of the aggression have been liberated, added the Major General. And most importantly, as Skibitsky pointed out, Russia has not achieved its strategic goal, let alone the complete occupation of Ukraine.
"We have completely disrupted the plans that Russia had in February 2022," he added.
