"Since the end of 2023, Russia has been producing more ammunition, but its quality is declining. We have observed an increase in the quantity of ammunition produced by Russia since the end of the summer of 2023, while noting a decrease in the quality of these projectiles," said Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, in an interview with Le Monde.
According to him, Russian missiles have several flaws, including frequent inaccuracies. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces promptly respond, targeting military facilities.
The head of intelligence noted that the missile strikes from the Russian Federation are driven by the aggressor's desire to declare 2023 a "victorious" year, but there were no actual military successes for the Russians.
"The intensive use of drones on both sides has made it impossible to conduct offensive operations by both the Russians and the Ukrainians. Another factor is the density of minefields, which has not been seen since World War II," said Budanov.
According to him, the solution for drones is electronic countermeasures, and specialized equipment is needed for mines.
Speaking about the Black Sea, Budanov noted that the northern part and gas platforms are under the control of Ukraine. Maritime export corridors, crucial for the economy, are operational again, even with the associated risks.
"We regularly attack the enemy's naval fleet and port facilities, so the Russians hastily had to transfer everything to the south. They are trying to establish a naval base in Ochamchire (Abkhazia) on the occupied territory of Georgia," the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate reported.
He reminded that in 2023, the first Ukrainian landings took place on the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, despite some considering them impossible. This gives hope, especially to Ukrainians on the peninsula who have lived under Russian occupation for 10 years, and many of them have already begun to lose hope.
Budanov noted that earlier, everyone thought that Moscow had a strong army but a weak economy, but it turned out to be the opposite. The Russian army is weak, but the economy, while possibly weak, is not starving. And at these rates, it can hold on for quite a long time.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate believes that the current Western sanctions are insufficient. They should have targeted the main sectors of the Russian economy: energy, metallurgy, and the overall financial system.
Budanov also emphasized that Ukraine needs more shells and artillery systems. This concerns not only modern technologies; Ukraine is interested in everything, including old systems that are no longer in use, but the quantity remains an important issue.
