Ukraine’s intelligence warns Europe about Russia’s next plans

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has warned European officials that the Kremlin may step up ballistic attacks on critical Ukrainian infrastructure during the autumn and winter, while also preparing provocations against European NATO members.

Representatives of the service met national security advisers to European leaders to discuss Russia’s strategic plans and coordinate international efforts to pressure the aggressor state to end the war. The meeting focused particularly on what Kyiv described as Russia’s plans for the coming colder months.

The intelligence service said Russia had accumulated about 400 hypersonic missiles for the purpose and had deployed additional launch systems in the border regions of Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh. The meeting also considered the capacity of Russia’s military-industrial complex to produce about 300 ballistic missiles by the end of the year.

Participants said international sanctions already affect about 60 percent of the companies involved in that production, creating one obstacle to the Kremlin’s ability to maintain its manufacturing capacity. Ukraine’s foreign intelligence team called for urgent sanctions against at least 55 companies involved in supplying electronic components and machine tools, as well as firms carrying out financial transactions for Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi also discussed Ukraine’s financial needs for this and next year with advisers to the leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom and France.