Oleksandr Turchynov: Russia prepares for full-scale continental war

The Russian Federation invests billions of dollars into the development of military infrastructure in the western direction, preparing for offensive operations. This was stated by Mr. Oleksandr Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine during the 12th Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

Mr. Oleksandr Turchynov had emphasized that now Russia is the epicentre of the destruction of security priorities in Europe.

The greatest concern is that the Russian Federation does not stop militarization for a single day, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine had underlined.

"Billions of resources are constantly being invested by Russia into military infrastructure projects. Airfields for attack aircraft will be restored, communications are being built for rapid transfer of large numbers of military units to the Ukrainian border. Military bases and bases for storing weapons and equipment are being created. And this process does not stop even for a day. This is very, very dangerous for us," Mr. Olexander Turchynov said.

The speaker described in detail the military forces of Russia in the western direction, which at any time can be used in the war against Ukraine.

"We are confronted by the 8th Army of the Southern District of the Russian Federation, in the north - the 20th Army of the Western District of the Russian Federation. Russia considers this is not enough. They keep in reserve the 1st Tank Army, the 49th and 58th General Troops Armies. And this is not enough. To ensure the offensive, the 6th and 4th Armies of the aerospace forces are being prepared. Eight guided missile brigades have been deployed along our border, four divisions and five brigades of the airborne troops, five brigades and one naval infantry regiment are being trained insufficient. In the Southern Military District the formation of six reserve so-called Cossack divisions had began. I have not yet named the powerful Black Sea Fleet, the Caspian flotilla, which can be used for military operations in the Azov and Black Seas. I did not name the 22nd Army Corps stationed in the Crimea and is ready to conduct military operations in Southern Ukraine," Mr. Oleksander Turchynov listed.

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine added that the first strike of the Russian missile systems, concentrated along the border of Ukraine, on the Black and Azov seas, will cumulatively have 364 missile launches.

“This is colossal striking power. Russia does not just invest billions of dollars in defense, but prepares for full-scale military operations. Russia prepares for a full-scale continental war in Europe,” Mr. Oleksander Turchynov concluded.

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The annual international event Kyiv Security Forum was launched by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007. Since then, the Forum has become a platform for high-level international discussions on current issues of national security, security issues of the Black Sea region, Europe and the world.