NV: I feel you’ve gotten already seen these movies the place a kamikaze drone hits the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. Russian media report that they’ve allegedly discovered the stays of two drones. How efficient do you assume it’s to make use of drones to hit oil refineries in Russia, on condition that, for instance, they launch 10 missiles at our refineries?
Zhdanov: The factor is that it’s important to be insane to make use of a strike drone as a kamikaze. Is the nation so affluent that it might scatter strike drones left and proper? … That’s the very first thing. And the second factor is simply take a look at the map: the vary of our largest drone (Bayraktar) is 150 kilometers. And the space from the territory we management to the city of Shakhtinsk might be greater than 300 kilometers.
NV: That’s, there’s a query as as to if we did it, and typically how it’s attainable.
Zhdanov: Sure, whether or not it’s our drone or not. By the way in which, there’s one within the Russian line of drones just like Bayraktar.
NV: Obtained it. There may be one other subject from what I noticed. Yesterday there was information {that a} Russian Su-25 aircraft crashed with the pilot in Rostov Oblast throughout coaching. The identical was reported on June 17, additionally Su-25, however in Belgorod Oblast. Why do you assume their planes are crashing and what does that imply? Or is it an out of date gear, what’s your model?
Learn additionally: Ukrainian navy shoots down Russian Su-25 warplane in Donetsk Oblast
Zhdanov: I feel it is the ignorance of pilots, incompetence. The actual fact is that they’ve a really massive scarcity of pilots. By the way in which, the final Su-25 shot down over the Donbas, once more was a Su-25 with a pilot who’s already retired, who fought in a non-public navy firm, after which was recruited and got here to struggle within the Donbas – and he’s a Su-25 pilot. The actual fact is that the Su-25 is an assault plane that should work on the entrance line of the enemy, it’s also known as a flying tank (that is what it was known as through the conflict in Afghanistan). The pilot must be actually expert when he comes to fireplace on enemy positions. And right here, almost definitely, younger pilots don’t handle to fly, though I don’t rule out (it’s an issue with) the technical situation of the plane themselves, as a result of these are Soviet-era plane. Sure, they could possibly be partially upgraded in Russia, however most of those plane have been produced earlier than the collapse of the Soviet Union.
NV: It was additionally reported that our operation on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island remains to be underway. From what (was recognized) as of June 20, there was a sequence of strikes by Ukrainian forces. In accordance with the Ukrainian Operational Command Pivden (South), a Pantsir C1 air protection system, and so on. have been destroyed. In flip, Russia’s Protection Ministry says they’ve repulsed an assault on Zmiinyi by capturing down 13 Ukrainian drones. The place do you assume the reality is, what precisely is going on on Zmiinyi?
Zhdanov: I feel the reality is on our aspect, I’ll clarify why. The very first thing is that we wouldn’t have sufficient to strike on the identical time. Secondly, with the intention to shoot down drones, the appropriate expertise and the suitable density of anti-aircraft weapons are required, this was not there on Zmiinyi Island. And if we bear in mind the Russian Protection Ministry’s statements, I generally hearken to what they are saying, they’ve loopy numbers. After they report that they’ve already destroyed 3,500 tanks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and now we have by no means had that a lot at the start of the conflict. About hundreds of fortified positions they destroy, the Russian artillery, too. There are simply numbers taken from a fantasy e-book, I wouldn’t consider them.
Learn additionally: Ukraine confirms it struck Russian-occupied Snake Island in Black Sea
NV: One other fascinating factor, the Operational Command South reported that the navy operation continues and requires “data silence” to finish it. What does it imply?
Zhdanov: More than likely, our command doesn’t desire a detailed evaluation and dialogue within the media and on the Web, why wouldn’t it? As a result of clearly, if they are saying that they haven’t completed something and it continues, it’s apparent that there might be some measures to destroy the Russian troops who’re nonetheless on Zmiinyi Island. By the way in which, let me remind you, do you keep in mind once we first struck Zmiinyi Island and destroyed Russian troops there through the Russian touchdown, what did Russian propaganda say then? They confirmed a video and mentioned {that a} helicopter was Ukrainian, not Russian, and that it was Russian troops who destroyed the Ukrainian touchdown troops. After which they failed by airing a photograph of an allegedly killed Ukrainian soldier, however because it turned out within the photograph, he was dressed within the uniform of a marine of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. At present there could also be related (lies) – 13 drones. What’s extra, they claimed that they had shot down greater than 10 NATO planes round Zmiinyi Island. So I am not shocked what they inform their viewers and, sadly, the viewers consider it.
NV: What about that one viewer, Putin – he additionally watches it and believes it. If we speak about data coverage on report what is going on on our fronts, many say it could be applicable to have a “One Voice” coverage. Nevertheless, as you could have seen, Secretary of the Nationwide Safety and Protection Council Oleksiy Danilov criticized the top of the Servant of the Individuals parliamentary faction, David Arakhamia, and adviser to the President’s Workplace Mykhailo Podolyak, for allegedly speaking about what we want or what is going on in our nation, though the Protection Ministry needs to be speaking about (these subjects). Who do you assume we should always belief? What do we have to keep in mind right here?
Learn additionally: Conflict technique. Why does Russia preserve resisting?
Zhdanov: The actual fact is that there needs to be one official supply of knowledge throughout a conflict. This supply might be represented by three cases: The Ministry of Protection (official spokesman), the Nationwide Safety and Protection Council (additionally an official spokesman), or an official spokesman for the president as commander-in-chief, or a spokesman for the headquarters of the supreme commander-in-chief. … This supply of knowledge needs to be official, with a transparent schedule, besides for brief breaking information, and the remainder of the data area ought to work with these sources of knowledge.
NV: One other subject that now we have been discussing for 2 or three days is our hitting the gasoline drilling rigs within the Black Sea. For what function do you assume this was carried out? What do you concentrate on it?
Zhdanov: By the way in which, going again to the official supply of knowledge, I’d interpret the implementation of this hearth activity in a very totally different approach. I’d say that now we have destroyed naval reconnaissance amenities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which have been positioned on gasoline drilling rigs seized from us by Russia in 2014. There have been 100 navy personnel and 23 civilians on essentially the most focused platform. So what did this platform do: did it extract gasoline or conduct radio technical reconnaissance or radar reconnaissance within the Black Sea, which is a part of our unique financial zone? Due to this fact, it needs to be interpreted that now we have destroyed two or three enemy reconnaissance objects within the Black Sea, which (really)belonged to us.
NV: You keep in mind that after this, information got here from the so-called “Crimean occupation authorities,” even from (Russian terrorist Igor) Girkin, the felony, that the Black Sea Fleet was about to assault Odesa, and I keep in mind that this prompted alarm among the many folks of Odesa. Do you assume it’s even attainable for the Black Sea Fleet to assault Odesa?
Zhdanov: Theoretically, sure, it’s attainable. By the way in which, I’d be very pleasantly shocked if the Black Sea Fleet went to our coast. Why? As a result of as quickly as they entered the zone of destruction of our anti-ship complexes, we might simply fireplace on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet. By the way in which, that is why they don’t seem to be going anyplace, they’re standing there within the Black Sea and getting ready to launch missile strikes on our territory. And they’re afraid to enter the zone of possible destruction of the anti-ship missile system, which is on fight obligation, as (Protection) Minister (Oleksii) Reznikov mentioned.
NV: That’s, in the event that they approached Odesa, it could be an excellent probability for us to simply sink them.
Learn additionally: Putin is getting ready for an extended conflict, in line with US intelligence
Zhdanov: Sure. To Odesa – it’s mentioned very loudly. I feel that as quickly as they enter the zone of destruction, we might inflict fireplace injury on these ships. So, they’re not going anyplace.
NV: On the identical time, we see each assaults on Odesa, and assaults on Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv. Are these mass missile assaults simply terrorism? Is there any technique to it?
Zhdanov: Sure, sadly, there’s a technique – it’s intimidation and creating panic and chaotic moods among the many inhabitants with the intention to pressure them to give up and never resist. Not actually, however when it comes to making the inhabitants prepared for peace at any value.
NV: There’s a decision – the US has such a software for declaring a state to be a sponsor of terrorism. To this point, Syria, Iran, Sudan, and North Korea have been declared as such states. Do you assume it modifications one thing when a rustic is said a sponsor of terrorism?
Zhdanov: For the US, if we’re speaking about this nation, sure, this can be a crucial choice, why? As a result of if Russia have been to be on that checklist, no firm related to the US might do any enterprise with that nation. It couldn’t put money into that nation, couldn’t get cash from that nation. It might be a violation of U.S. legislation, and this firm can be punished in varied methods – this is essential.
NV: Let’s discuss a bit about what is going on in Luhansk Oblast. I listened to your newest report, you mentioned that the state of affairs in Luhansk Oblast is tough, even near vital. What can we see there?
Zhdanov: Sadly, certainly, they’re attempting to maneuver from Popasna in direction of Lysychansk they usually steadily succeed. They’re succeeding resulting from their numerical benefit in firepower, they’re really taking us out of our positions. We’re attempting to cease this advance, it is vitally gradual, however the forces are unequal on this path. Certainly, in the present day the state of affairs may be very vital since there’s a menace to the encirclement of a few of our armed forces.
NV: As for the forces of the so-called “DPR,” there was an evaluation of the UK navy intelligence … that (the DPR’s) losses are equal to about 55% of the unique quantity. This implies the acute depletion of Russian and pro-Russian forces within the Donbas. What are these forces? We perceive that the “DPR” would by no means have existed with out the Russian navy and gear. So what precisely are these 55% losses?
Learn additionally: Army knowledgeable Zhdanov on Russia’s ‘worse than anticipated’ efficiency in Donbas
Zhdanov: You might be completely proper, there aren’t any “DPR” forces, there’s the first Army Corps from the eighth Common Army of the Southern navy district of the Russian armed forces. And even these whom they caught on the streets, put into navy service, all of them take the oath of the Russian Federation, signal a contract with the Russian armed forces. And the truth that their paperwork are issued by God is aware of what group, not acknowledged by anybody, doesn’t take away duty.
How they’re registered is a secondary problem. However with out fight expertise, applicable weapons and gear, judging by what we all know from intelligence, they’re armed and outfitted by the residual precept – they act as cannon fodder on the battlefield. They’re both despatched ahead, or to the most well liked spots, or simply thrown into battle and behind them, the Russians attain our trenches on their shoulders, after which start the assault. That is utilized by each common models of Russian troops and fighters of personal navy corporations combating on Russia’s aspect.
NV: Within the subsequent section, we’ll talk about a BBC article on how they recruit volunteers. And now there’s extra discuss that the Russians are attempting to make use of fewer of their navy models and depend on these volunteers, whom they’re recruiting in depressed areas. So far as we perceive, that is additionally in our favor, as a result of these will not be the type of people that might do one thing outstanding on the battlefield.
Zhdanov: No, I don’t agree with you. Why? The actual fact is that non-public navy corporations rent these proxy troopers, mercenaries, and there is kind of choice. Those that have fight expertise or served within the military are despatched there. That’s, they’ve an concept of what navy coaching is and the fundamentals of fight operations, that is the primary. Second, there’s a greater money allowance, in line with some data it reaches greater than RUB 300,000 ($5,600) a month. Third, they signal a contract with a non-public firm, wherein they undertake to conduct energetic hostilities, in any other case they are going to be punished as much as felony duty. This makes these non-public corporations extra combat-ready and extra harmful for us.
NV: Let’s discuss a bit in regards to the worldwide state of affairs. I feel you have seen the information that Russian troops are simulating missile strikes in opposition to Estonia every day, our colleagues from Sky News mentioned. Will they dare to do one thing there? We additionally know in regards to the disaster they’ve with Lithuania. Do you assume they will dare to do one thing within the Baltic states?
Zhdanov: As for Estonia and Lithuania, they’re NATO members, NATO will defend its members from assault in any case. NATO is a protection alliance, as they put it. Due to this fact, Russia is scary them – the helicopter that attempted to enter Estonian airspace in the present day flew with its transponder off, and didn’t reply to requests from Estonian controllers. They’re scary as a lot as attainable, scary a NATO nation, or in its face all the NATO bloc, in accordance with the statute of constructing the primary shot be in opposition to Russia, in order that Russia might say that NATO is an aggressive bloc that attacked the Russian Federation. And it could instantly provide a negotiation course of, however with NATO to resolve the disaster. That is what Russia is attempting to attain. However they’re afraid to make the primary shot.
NV: As a result of they need to keep in mind that the NATO bloc is far more highly effective than Russia with its previous weapons.
Zhdanov: Sure, it will likely be a really transient conflict and never in favor of the Russian Federation – they perceive that.
NV: There was a political assertion by the commander of the UK military, Common (Patrick) Sanders. He mentioned that, first, British troops should be able to struggle in Europe as soon as once more, and that they have to forge a military able to defeating Russia. Is it politics, is it simply intimidation? Or will these be actual actions, what do you assume?
Zhdanov: I feel they are going to be actual. Our conflict has change into a set off, which, to my thoughts, will break the impasse of the navy and industrial advanced in most nations. Now everybody will take a look at their military, its reserves, fight functionality and start to revive gear and weapons, deploy their troops and prepare them in readiness for his or her supposed use. It is a type of impetus, by the way in which, it should give financial growth to these nations that launch their navy and industrial advanced.
NV: I additionally need to ask you about Belarus. Putin goes to Minsk, the place the Discussion board of the Areas of Belarus and Russia is scheduled for June 30-July 1. Do you assume he’ll be capable to put strain on Lukashenko? If he can, you recognize this narrative why Lukashenko doesn’t conform to ship troops to Ukraine: as a result of they’ll insurgent in opposition to him. Do you assume he’ll agree? And if he agrees, will they insurgent in opposition to him?
Zhdanov: I feel sure, he can agree, though, for my part, it will likely be a demise sentence for him – a sentence of elimination from energy. The truth that they’ll insurgent in opposition to him can be fairly attainable, particularly if he now deploys a military of one other 35,000 and these are conscripts from civilian life, who will carry with them a good greater share of anti-war sentiment within the Belarusian armed forces. … He’s in a really critical state of affairs, you wouldn’t envy him, however I feel he’ll attempt to keep away from Belarus intervening on this conflict on the aspect of the Russian Federation.
NV: Lastly, now we have June 22, the anniversary of Hitler’s Germany invading the Soviet Union. It’s clear that that is additionally an essential date for Russia, as a result of they’ve “exaggerated ‘victorious’ hysteria,” and so on. What do you assume, if we are saying that they by no means point out that Stalin and Hitler have been allies, divided Poland, how does it assist them stay?
Zhdanov: You see, they separated this episode of World Conflict II, it’s known as the “Nice Patriotic Conflict.” By the way in which, this was hidden by the Soviet Union, why? As a result of it could be unclear how this was the case, they have been allies for 2 years and have been getting ready collectively for conflict with the remainder of the world, however then abruptly attacked one another. So I feel they only do not need to combine the colours they painted in the present day on this “exaggerated ‘victorious’ hysteria” paradigm. It was a lot simpler for the then Soviet Union and for Putin to do propaganda work to glorify this episode of the Second World Conflict that they name the “Nice Patriotic Conflict.”
