Representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Vadim Skibitsky, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, discussed the state of the military-industrial complex of Russia, cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang in the field of armaments, as well as the role of F-16 aircraft, which Russia fears greatly.
Key points from the conversation:
In February 2024, the Russians planned to produce 130 missiles of the "Iskander", "Caliber", X-101, X-32, and "Dagger" classes.
A center has been established in Russia to replace foreign components, especially electronic components, with Russian-made ones. They are of lower quality, less perfect, but allow for the production of weapons.
Currently, the Russians are using missiles manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2023 - immediately from the conveyor. We see that the missiles cease to meet the declared characteristics, their quality deteriorates.
Last year, the Russians produced about 2 million shells of 122 mm and 152 mm.
In 2024, the Russians plan to produce 2.7 million shells. We will see if these plans are implemented because it requires modernization of production, conservation, or creation of new lines.
From Belarus, the Russians have already taken out all the ammunition, so there is nothing left to take from there.
From North Korea, the Russians have already received 1.5 million shells of 122 mm and 152 mm. These are ammunition from the 70-80s, half of which do not detonate.
In exchange for supplying ammunition, missiles, and other weapons, Pyongyang seeks to obtain military technologies from Moscow for the development of its military-industrial complex.
In particular, North Korea is asking the Kremlin for nuclear weapons-related technologies. Russia should be held accountable for this.
Nuclear blackmail is a very powerful tool that Russia uses to influence political processes, particularly in Europe.
Russia has about 300 combat aircraft against us.
The F-16 is one of the means that will allow, in particular, to destroy Russian aviation used for bombing. Then there will no longer be 75 Russian bombs over Avdiivka in just one day, or over Krynyky, where the Russians dropped, for example, 35-45 bombs on just one of our small bases.
The Kremlin is very afraid that powerful Western equipment will come to Ukraine, so Russia has set itself the task of destroying both our aviation and infrastructure.
In Russia, a so-called "volunteer corps" of 18,000 people is being formed, which includes former "Wagnerites". This process is overseen by the Ministry of Defense of Russia. These "veteran brigades" operate on the "Wagner" principle - constant assaults and achieving results at any cost.
Recruited by Russia foreigners, including Africans and Syrians, go to war only to escape at the first opportunity and then get to Europe.
