Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has warned Russia is trying to apply what he calls the “Korean scenario” to Ukraine, having failed to take the capital and depose the legitimate government.
Kyrylo Budanov says Vladimir Putin’s priorities are the east and the south of Ukraine, after his offensive largely stalled.
If he’s able to connect that territory, he says Putin would then try to foist a demarcation line separating that area from the rest of Ukraine – a bit like after the Korean war.
But, he says, one of Russia’s main problems is establishing and maintaining a land corridor between the east and Crimea. In its way stands the “unbreakable” Mariupol.
In any case, predicts General Budanov, this quasi-state would be unviable, given the resistance of the local population and the fact we are about to witness what he calls a “total partisan safari”.
