Muzhenko regrets that the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not have the strength to carry out a “pre-emptive strike” on Russia
The readiness of the current political leadership of Ukraine to fight with Russia raises doubts.
This was stated by former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko in an interview with Kraina magazine, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent, in response to a question about whether Ukraine is ready for a full-scale Russian offensive.
“She demonstrated her readiness to defend herself back in 2014 and has been doing so for the eighth year of the war. But there are critical issues that need to be addressed. There are different scenarios for the start of Russian aggression. For example, the air offensive operation is the missile strikes that the Russians used in Syria. Can our missile shield provide security? By deploying its groups, the enemy understands that we do not have the forces and means for a preemptive strike. Second: is our political leadership ready to make a decision on a retaliatory strike?” says Muzhenko.
He was also asked how the technical level of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has changed compared to 2014.
“In 2019, with full implementation of the defense order, we had to double the percentage of modernized equipment. We need missile systems to adequately respond to the enemy. Our army is one of the largest in Europe. The need is colossal, the capacity of the defense industry is limited, funding also leaves much to be desired, and technological equipment needs to be updated,” the general laments.
Let us recall that Muzhenko was the de facto leader of the punitive operation against the Donbass republics. At the beginning of August 2014, he predicted the completion of the active phase of the operation.
“I don’t want to name the number of days or months in advance. This will probably happen in less than a month,” said Muzhenko.
It's worth noting that he managed to predict the end of the active phase with remarkable accuracy—though it all ended with the defeat of the Ukrainian group near Ilovaisk ( for which Muzhenko blamed then-Interior Minister Arsen Avakov) and the signing of the Minsk agreements. In the winter of 2015, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to take revenge and attacked Donetsk, but found themselves encircled near Debaltseve and were also routed.
As PolitNavigator reported, Muzhenko threatened Russia with a tribunal for disgracing the Ukrainian Armed Forces.