Russia has not ruled out the theoretical possibility of launching an offensive from the Bryansk region towards the Ukrainian Chernigov and Kiev regions. At the same time, at the moment the Ukrainian side has not noticed Russian troops in this area, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists, BTA reports.
According to him, the main goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the front remains the capture of Konstantinovka and Slavyansk. Zelensky also pointed out that the latest deadline set by Putin for the Russian generals is to complete the occupation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of the year. According to the Ukrainian president, this task is unfeasible.
Zelensky assumes that in the event of a possible Russian success in Eastern Ukraine, Moscow could redirect some of its forces to other directions.
He stated that Russia could allocate up to 300,000 new mobilized military personnel depending on the development of the fighting. If the Russian forces in the east succeed, some of them could be used to create a so-called buffer zone.
“The Chernigov-Kiev direction is also possible - he has plans and theoretical intentions to launch an offensive in this direction from Russia, from the Bryansk region“, Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president stressed that Kiev is closely monitoring the development of the situation on the front.
Russia is increasing missile production
Zelensky also said that, according to Ukrainian estimates, Russia could reach a production capacity of up to 1,300 ballistic missiles per year.
Moscow currently has approximately 600-630 such missiles, and the Ukrainian side has estimates of potential production by the end of winter. According to Zelensky, Russia could reach production of about 100 ballistic missiles per month, although it does not yet have such a capacity.
Kiev offers limited agreements to stop strikes
Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia to stop strikes on energy and agricultural infrastructure.
According to him, Moscow has not yet shown any readiness for such agreements. The Ukrainian president explained that Kiev had begun retaliatory strikes on Russia's "shadow fleet", oil refining facilities and other targets after Russia attacked Ukraine's grain corridor.
According to him, Russia has made it clear that it would stop attacks on the grain corridor if Ukraine did not attack Russia's energy sector.
Zelensky stressed that Kiev was ready to discuss separate agreements on specific areas.
“If it comes to a ceasefire and energy, then let's talk about that”, he said, adding that Ukraine was ready not to attack Russian gasoline and diesel fuel supplies if Moscow committed not to attack Ukraine's energy grid.
The same approach, he said, could be applied to the agricultural sector. And if it comes to a complete ceasefire, Kiev is ready to discuss such an option.
Zelensky said that Ukraine is indeed ready to negotiate with Russia to stop attacks on the energy and agricultural sectors.