Ukraine abandoned large-scale strike on Moscow on anniversary of invasion after US request – The Washington Post
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Ukrainian intelligence had planned a massive strike on Moscow on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion on February 24, but abandoned it at the request of the US.
The Washington Post reported this.
"The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, planned bold strikes deep in the enemy's rear, which worried officials in Washington. In February, with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine days away, officials in Kyiv were busy making plans to attack Moscow. Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the country's military intelligence directorate, the HUR, instructed one of his officers "to get ready for mass strikes on 24 February … with everything the HUR had," the text reads.
This is stated in a secret report of the US National Security Agency.
It is reported that Ukraine was even considering a naval strike using TNT on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk.
Officials in Washington secretly watched the plans of the Ukrainians, and the White House feared that attacks inside Russia could provoke an aggressive response from the Kremlin.
On February 22, two days before the anniversary, the Central Intelligence Agency released a new secret report: the HUR "agreed to delay strikes" on Moscow at Washington's request.
This information became part of an array of classified information that leaked online recently, but they do not explain who exactly intervened and why the Ukrainians agreed to withdraw.
"Ukraine, which seeks to transfer hostilities to the territory of Russia, is sometimes restrained by the United States, which consistently tries to avoid the escalation of the conflict into a direct clash between American and Russian forces. Some American officials consider attacks on Russia, especially with the use of American weapons, as very risky operations, which may seem so threatening to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons," the text reads.
It is reported that in private conversations, American and European officials express their admiration for Budanov. But they also say his brashness sometimes makes them nervous.
In particular, the documents state that on February 13, Budanov ordered one of his officers to be ready for an operation. The United States immediately repeated its public recommendation to its citizens to leave the Russian Federation.
The documents also indicate that U.S. intelligence is monitoring Budanov's communications, which appears to be no news to him.
Budanov's office planned to attack the Wagner Private Military Company members in Mali. Still, it is currently being determined at what stage the operation in Mali is now and whether the HUR received permission to carry out their plans.
The HUR also developed plans for covert attacks on Russian forces in Syria with the assistance of the Kurds.
Officials in Washington and Europe have reprimanded Ukraine for attacks outside its territory that they say have gone too far.
US officials also worry that Beijing will likely view Ukraine's attacks inside Russia as "an opportunity to portray NATO as an aggressor" and that China may increase its support for Russia if it deems the attacks "significant."
The USA prohibits Ukraine from using American weapons to strike Russia.
A senior Ukrainian official said that Kyiv's willingness not to fire on certain targets and to coordinate its actions with the Americans should encourage the US to provide more advanced weapons with a more extended range, such as ATACMS.
However, so far, representatives of the Biden administration have refused to provide Ukraine with these weapons.
For reference:
Kyrylo Oleksiyovych Budanov, holding the rank of Major General, has been appointed Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine since August 2020. Before this, Budanov served as Deputy Director of one of Ukraine's Departments of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
On 21 April, a Moscow Court ordered an arrest warrant, "in absentia," for Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov over the Crimean Bridge explosion. He has replied, "It's a pleasure for me (it) shows that I work in the right way, and in the future, I'll work harder and with higher quality – to show that Moscow's court was right."
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