The Ukrainian army will launch a new counter-offensive in spring, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kirill Budanov, has told The Telegraph. By then, the current Russian offensive "will be completely exhausted," "and then it will be our turn," he said.

After the end of its counteroffensive, Ukraine, repelling Russian attacks, has switched to "active defense" and is building powerful defensive fortifications, DW reported. According to Budanov, Russian troops have not abandoned their attempts to seize eastern Ukraine. In particular, they are conducting offensive operations in the area of Kupyansk, Liman, Bakhmut and Avdeevka at the same time.

The head of Ukrainian military intelligence admitted that the Russians have had "some success" near Avdeevka, but noted that "this is not at all what the enemy army had hoped for."

In addition, Budanov said in an interview with CNN that attacks on infrastructure on Russian territory could intensify this year. At the same time, he did not directly recognize Kiev's involvement in drone attacks on Russia. Budanov spoke about a hypothetical plan that "includes all major critical infrastructure and military infrastructure facilities of the Russian Federation." According to him, Russian residents now see a real picture of the war - burning oil depots, destroyed buildings of factories and plants.