In an interview with The Philadelphia Investigator, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency, discussed the possibility of cutting off the Crimean peninsula from Russian supplies. Budanov believes that ATACMS missiles provided by the United States could be used to achieve this, potentially putting Vladimir Putin on the defensive.
Former US military commander in Europe, General Ben Hodges, has also emphasized the importance of cutting off Russian supplies to Crimea. Budanov expressed agreement with Hodges, stressing the need to take action in order to implement these strategies.
Budanov mentioned that Ukrainian-made Magura drones operated by defense intelligence have already been used to target Russian ships near Crimea, forcing them to relocate. He stated that there are currently no combat ships left in the Black Sea. The next step, according to Budanov, is to prevent Russian military supplies from reaching Crimea, which could involve destroying Putin’s Crimean Bridge project.
Budanov believes that ATACMS missiles, recently approved for Ukraine by President Biden, could be used to destroy the Crimean Bridge. He dismissed concerns about the missiles’ power, emphasizing that they are capable of accomplishing the mission.
Regarding the use of nuclear weapons, Budanov suggested that it would not be a rational choice for Russia due to the political risks involved for Putin.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia has suffered significant combat losses since the invasion, with approximately 534,360 casualties reported, including 1,270 in the last day alone.
In summary, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov believes that cutting off Russian supplies to the Crimean peninsula through the use of ATACMS missiles could be a strategic move to weaken Russia’s control over the region. By destroying the Crimean Bridge and preventing military supplies from reaching Crimea, Ukraine aims to put pressure on Putin and potentially shift the balance of power in the region. Budanov also highlighted the risks associated with using nuclear weapons in this context.
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https://www.ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-ato/3878027-atacms-could-help-cut-crimea-off-russian-supplies-ukraines-defense-intel-chief.html