Turchynov: Russia preparing for large-scale continental war

"Russia is not just investing billions in the development of military infrastructure, it is preparing for large-scale military operations, large-scale continental war in Europe. And, of course, our country is the first bridgehead they will try to conquer," Oleksandr Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said at the 12th Kyiv Security Forum, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Turchynov noted that Russian Federation has been "the epicenter of the destruction of parity safety" over the past five years. In his opinion, the greatest danger lies in the fact that "the Russian Federation does not stop after occupying some territories."

“We see how the military infrastructure has been developing very rapidly in recent years along the Ukrainian border,” he added. In addition, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine noted that the Russian Federation was investing billions in the military infrastructure facilities: airfields for military ground attack aircraft, military bases and storages for weapons and equipment.

"In the east of our state, we are opposed 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. And the Russians consider this not enough as they keep the 1st Tank Army in reserve, the 49th and the 58th combined-arms army - and this is not enough. To ensure the offensive, which is being prepared by the Russian Federation, the 6th and the 4th aerospace armies will be used. They have deployed eight guided missile brigades along our border," Turchynov said.

He also said that the Russian Federation was preparing four divisions and five brigades of the airborne troops, five brigades and a regiment of marines to advance in the possible theater of military operations in Ukraine. However, Russia considers even such a resource to be insufficient, Turchynov noted.

He also mentioned that, in particular, the formation of six reserve so-called Cossack divisions had begun in the Southern District.

“It is Russia that has been waging war against our country for five years: the occupation of Crimea, the occupation of a part of Donbas. And, unfortunately, not a single day has passed without military operations and military provocations committed by the Russian military machine on the territory of our state. The members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are killed and wounded practically every day," the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said.

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