Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi says there is a threat that the Russian forces may launch offensive actions in Chernihiv region from the north, from Russian territory, while he considers an offensive from Belarus unlikely, although Ukraine’s Defence Forces are prepared for such a scenario.
“The most likely option, and this is confirmed by several sources, is possible offensive actions in the north from Russian territory, from Bryansk region. This is a realistic scenario, and of course we are preparing for it,” Syrskyi said in an interview with TSN.
He noted that this does not refer to an attack on Kyiv, but rather to Russian plans to seize territory in Chernihiv region, advance deeper into it, and thereby draw Ukrainian forces away from key directions, including areas where the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducting active operations, with the aim of “stretching the front line and depriving us of reserves.”
“Given recent events, I do not think the leadership of Belarus will dare to use its own territory and provide it to the aggressor as a staging ground for an offensive operation. At the same time, of course, we take such a scenario into account,” the commander-in-chief said, adding that “we do not currently see any concentration of troops on the Belarusian side.”
Regarding the issue of relay transmitters on Belarusian territory that were used to guide Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian territory but were later turned off, as reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Syrskyi said:
“They have not yet been dismantled. Yesterday one relay transmitter was turned on. I think they will no longer activate them.”
When asked why he is confident of this and whether Ukraine would take any measures against Belarus if this does not stop, the commander-in-chief replied:
“I cannot tell you everything. I think they understand that this should not be done, let’s put it that way.”
“We have a lot of capabilities. We have experience, trained units, prepared troops. In other words, we have everything we need not to fear actions from this direction (from Belarus) and to ensure, at the very least, that it is impossible for enemy UAVs to operate along the border,” Syrskyi said.
