Ukrainian security services aim to intensify intelligence operations and carry out sabotage strikes in the coming year, targeting both occupiers' facilities in temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine and territories within Russia itself
This was announced by the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Vasily Malayuk, in an interview with Politico.
“We cannot disclose our plans. They must remain a shock to the enemy. We are preparing surprises. The occupiers must understand that they cannot hide. We will find the enemy everywhere”, he stated.
While avoiding specifics, Malayuk hinted that targets of material and technical support and military assets in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will remain a focal point. He emphasized that new solutions are continually sought, ensuring that “the cotton will keep burning.”
As the front-line hostilities progress slower than desired, SSU actions not only boost the morale of Ukrainians but also damage Russia’s military capabilities.
“The SSU delivers targeted pinpoint strikes, embedding a needle right into the heart of the enemy. Each of our special operations has a specific goal and yields results. All of this, in combination, complicates the capabilities of the Russian Federation to wage war and brings our victory closer”, noted the head of the SSU.
Malayuk emphasized that much attention would be given to Crimea and the Black Sea, building on the operations of Ukrainian fighters in the current year.
The main project of the SSU at present is the Sea Baby drone, capable of carrying around 850 kilograms of explosives and operating in stormy conditions, making it challenging to detect. In July, it was used for an attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge, connecting occupied Crimea with mainland Russia, as well as for striking at the occupiers’ ships.
“According to international law and the rules of war, this is a legitimate target for us. Ukrainian legislation also allows us to attack this object. And we must destroy the material and technical support of our enemy”, emphasized Malayuk.
He highlighted that Ukraine carefully assesses its targets before striking, adhering to the rules of war, unlike Russia, which has targeted both military and civilian objects with missiles, artillery, and drones. Most SSU operations are conducted in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine—Donbas, Crimea, and the Black Sea.
However, when it comes to planning operations within Russia’s territory, Malayuk stated that the SSU focuses solely on targets that serve as material and technical corridors for arms shipments, such as the railway tunnel in Siberia.
“All SSU operations you hear about are exclusively our work and our unique technical developments. These operations have become possible, in particular, because we are developing and implementing our technical solutions”, said the head of the SSU.
Photo: Open Sources
