Budanov says the occupants' presence in Kharkiv region is "a matter of time" and reveals their plans

The head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, believes that the presence of Russian occupation troops in Kharkiv region is "a matter of time." He also spoke about the invaders' plans for 2024.

Budanov said this on the air of the United News TV marathon. Budanov noted that the actions of the Russians in the Kharkiv region were an attempt to create a buffer zone, but their plan "failed."

When asked by a journalist whether the Russians would abandon their attempts, the head of the DIU replied, "No. They have remained in the occupied territories of Kharkiv region, but it is a matter of time."

Budanov also emphasized that the occupiers' "number one task" for this year is "to get the most of Ukraine by any means necessary," while the "minimal task" is to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Earlier, the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate said that mass protests and riots are unlikely in the aggressor state of Russia. Despite the flooded regions, blackouts, and a possible ban on foreign currency trading, Russians are not ready to protest.

As a reminder, Kyrylo Budanov said that during the full-scale war against Ukraine, several failed assassination attempts were made against Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin.

Budanov also said that for Putin, the Kerch Bridge is "part of the empire's skeleton," so this structure must be destroyed.

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