UKRAINE could soon begin attempts to take back Russian-occupied Crimea, the country’s intelligence chief says.
Kyrylo Budanov told a news website that forces could enter the peninsula to “de-occupy” it shortly — but offered no firm time frame.
It came just a week after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Kerch Bridge linking the territory to Russia was a “legitimate” target.
The bridge has been bombed to disrupt arms supplies to Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014 and Ukraine has repeatedly stressed that re-taking it is a key part of its counter-offensive.
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Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, said he had visited hotspot city Bakhmut to “congratulate” his country’s “warrior” special forces as Kyiv ramps up its fightback.
He said the crack unit recently helped to recapture the village of Staromaiorske.
Mr Zelensky added: “The guys inflict especially tangible blows on Russian terrorists.”
Earlier, two teenage children were among nine victims hurt by a Russian missile strike that hit a tower block’s top floor in Dnipro in eastern Ukraine.
Officials said the condition of the pair was not life-threatening.
But Mr Zelensky branded the attack “Russian missile terror”.
He also posted a video showing smoke rising from buildings.
Ukraine’s counter-offensive continued to gather pace yesterday as commanders revealed North Korean rockets captured from Russian forces were now being used against the enemy.
They were said to have been seized from a “friendly” country before delivery to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.
Military experts predict battlefield triumphs in the days to come.
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Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu last week met North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un to beg for weapons to boost his side’s dwindling stocks