Ukraine’s Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov asked not to spread panic over alleged Russian plans to launch an offensive against the country, noting that there is no data to confirm reports in this regard.
Reznikov stated that the information from the Ukrainian intelligence service and its partners indicates that Russia did not deploy any assault group that shows its intention to carry out an offensive the next day. “Such a threat does not exist. That is why I ask not to spread panic. The war by Russia has been waged against Ukraine since 2014 through the occupation of Crimea,” he said.
The next day, the minister expressed himself in the same vein, commenting that Russia had committed an act of aggression against Ukraine in 2014, “destroying international borders by seizing Crimea […] and parts of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions.” “So today the situation in the world has not changed, the aggression continues, the war continues, but there is no reason to believe that there will be an open invasion across the border by the Russian Federation today. today, I don’t have that information, because there is no attack group.”
Asked why the media is constantly reporting on the Russian invasion, he advised “call your fellow journalists” and ask them why they are doing it.
Commenting on the departure of some diplomats and their relatives from the US, he said: “More than 140 diplomatic missions are in Ukraine, and they gave no recommendations or orders for evacuation.”
Regarding Washington’s actions, the Minister of Defense maintained that the US authorities suffer from “‘an Afghan syndrome’, which is perhaps why they changed their protocols.” “They need to show their people that they care and it is a voluntary character for members of their families,” he said.
For his part, the leader of the faction of the presidential party in the Verkhovna Rada —Ukrainian Parliament—, David Arajamiya, also spoke about the alleged preparation by Russia for an attack against Ukraine. He said Russian military camps on the border between the two countries are “half full” but look “alert” in satellite images. “Our intelligence says there is no active preparation for an attack,” he stressed.
It should be remembered that the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Alexei Danilov, declared on Monday that Kiev sees no reason to speak that there are preparations for a large-scale offensive against the country. “I would like to point out that there have been many news events in our country lately. A lot of paramilitary fiction appears in the media. I would like to appeal to all of you, friends and colleagues, to reduce the intensity that exists today a little. The situation that exists It is completely clear to us, to date there is no reason for us to panic,” he said.
Speculation about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine has intensified in the West after several media outlets published alleged plans for the operation in November.
For its part, Russia repeatedly dismissed as false and unfounded the accusations that it was preparing an alleged provocation in Ukraine. Thus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated last Friday that his country has never threatened the Ukrainian people. “I would like to remind once again those who analyze our position that Russia has never, anywhere, not once threatened the Ukrainian people,” he reiterated.
