Zelensky Warns of Possible ‘Massive Russian Strike,’ New Drone Command Posts in Belarus

March 25 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to pay particular attention to air raid alerts, citing information from Ukrainian intelligence.

In his evening address, posted on Telegram, the president warned that Russia “may be preparing a massive strike.” “The necessary orders have already been given to our air defense forces. Please take care of yourselves and of Ukraine,” he added.

Zelensky said he had received a report from Ukrainian intelligence chief Oleg Ivashchenko. In a Telegram update about their meeting, he said that Ukraine has “irrefutable data” that Russia continues to share intelligence with Iran.

When the US and Israel launched a massive aerial bombardment campaign against Iran on Feb. 28 – killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeting the regime’s offensive and defensive capabilities – Moscow was placed in something of a bind. While loosely aligned with Tehran, the Kremlin has expended a great deal of effort to maintain superficially friendly relations with Washington since US President Donald Trump was re-elected. Zelensky said that Russia’s insight into the region depends on its “own radio and electronic intelligence capabilities,” as well as intelligence from its partners in the Middle East.

Politico reported that Russia had offered to stop sharing intelligence with Iran in exchange for the US halting intelligence to Ukraine – a deal the US reportedly turned down. Closer to home, Ivaschenko is said to have told Zelensky that the Russian command’s current assessment of battlefield progress – which is central to Moscow’s negotiating position in ongoing peace talks – is highly exaggerated.

Zelensky added that Ukrainian intelligence now has “clear information” that Russia plans to deploy four new long-range drone command posts in Belarus, as well as an unspecified number in the occupied territories of Ukraine. “We will react accordingly,” Zelensky said.

Source: kyivpost.com