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KYIV — Ukraine’s spies purpose to accentuate intelligence operations and conduct sabotage strikes deep in Russian-controlled territory subsequent yr to convey the conflict as near the Kremlin as attainable, the pinnacle of Ukraine’s SBU safety service instructed POLITICO.
“We can not disclose our plans. They need to stay a shocker for the enemy. We put together surprises,” Main Basic Vasyl Malyuk mentioned in written responses to questions. “The occupiers should perceive that it’ll not be attainable to cover. We’ll discover the enemy in all places.”
Whereas he dodged specifics, Malyuk did give some hints. Logistics targets and navy belongings in occupied Ukrainian territory are prone to proceed to be a spotlight. After which there are strikes that hit the enemy throughout the border.
“We’re at all times on the lookout for new options. So, cotton will proceed to burn,” Malyuk joked.
Ukrainians use the phrase ”cotton” to explain explosions in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine organized by Ukrainian particular companies. It got here from Russian media and officers describing the rising variety of such incidents with the phrase khlopok, which suggests each “blast” and “cotton” in Russian.
With fight alongside a whole lot of kilometers of entrance strains primarily stalled for a lot of this yr, the exploits of the SBU each increase Ukrainian morale and in addition harm Russia’s conflict preventing talents.
“The SBU carries out focused level strikes. We stab the enemy with a needle proper within the coronary heart. Every of our particular operations pursues a selected objective and offers its outcome. All this in a fancy complicates the capabilities of the Russian Federation for waging conflict and brings our victory nearer,” Malyuk mentioned.
One space of focus might be Crimea and the Black Sea, constructing on this yr’s operations.
Malyuk’s pet venture is the Sea Child drone, known as malyuk in Ukrainian, which suggests ”little man.” The drone carries about 850 kilograms of explosives and is ready to function in stormy situations, making it troublesome to detect.
“With the assistance of these little guys we’re regularly pushing the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation out of Crimea,” Malyuk mentioned.
It has been used to assault the Kerch Bridge that hyperlinks occupied Crimea to mainland Russia in July in addition to to hammer Russian ships.
In October 2022 the SBU’s marine drones attacked Sevastopol Bay damaging 4 Russian warships. This yr, the drones hit two missile carriers, a tanker, an amphibious assault ship and in addition broken a big navy tugboat and Russia’s latest reconnaissance and hydrographic ship.
That compelled Moscow to shift a lot of the fleet away from its base in occupied Sevastopol in Crimea, leaving the west of the ocean freed from Russian vessels and permitting Ukraine to renew use of its ports for transport.
The Kerch Bridge remains to be standing after a 2022 truck bomb assault and this yr’s strike, however is simply partially open, Malyuk mentioned.
“It’s a reliable goal for us, based on worldwide regulation and the principles of conflict. Ukrainian regulation additionally permits us to assault this object. And we’ve got to destroy the logistics of our enemy,” Malyuk added.
Malyuk mentioned that Kyiv fastidiously considers its targets earlier than placing — an effort to remain throughout the guidelines of conflict in distinction with Russia, which has fired missiles, artillery and drones at each navy and civilian targets.
“When planning and getting ready its particular operations, the SBU fastidiously selects its targets. We work on navy services or on those who the enemy makes use of to hold out their navy duties. We act absolutely by the norms of worldwide regulation,” Malyuk mentioned.
The SBU conducts most of its operations on Ukraine’s territory — in Donbas, Crimea and the Black Sea.
“That is our land and we’ll use all attainable strategies to free it from the occupiers,” Malyuk mentioned.
With regards to planning one thing in Russia, SBU says it focuses solely on targets used for navy functions like logistical corridors for supplying weapons — like the rail tunnel in Siberia hit with two explosions (the SBU hasn’t claimed duty) in addition to warships, navy bases and comparable targets.
“All SBU operations you hear about are solely our work and our distinctive technical growth,” Malyuk mentioned. “These operations grew to become attainable, specifically, as a result of we develop and implement our technical options.”
Russia ought to put together to be hit.