Captured paperwork reveal Putin’s pre-invasion plan – together with plot to annex Ukraine by August
A British defence and safety assume tank has revealed particulars of Moscow’s pre-invasion plan for Ukraine, based mostly on captured Russian paperwork apparently signed off by Vladimir Putin.
Russia had deliberate to take over Ukraine over 10 days and annex it by August this 12 months, the Royal United Companies Institute for Defence and Safety Research (RUSI) stated.
In keeping with the British Army-linked assume tank, solely a small group of Russian officers had been conscious of the total scale of the plans.
It stated even deputy heads of branches throughout the Russian navy had been unaware of the plan to invade and occupy Ukraine till days earlier than the invasion started, and tactical navy items did not obtain orders till hours earlier than.
Capturing Ukrainian nuclear energy vegetation, central financial institution and parliament
The paperwork additionally revealed that Russia deliberate to seize Ukraine’s energy stations, airfields, water provides, central financial institution and parliament – and that Russian particular companies had been tasked with killing the Ukrainian management.
They appeared to imagine Ukrainian authorities officers would “both flee or be captured on account of the velocity of the invasion”, RUSI stated.
Ukraine’s intelligence group additionally believes Russia deliberate to make use of Belarusian airborne items to seize the Rivne and Khmelnytsky nuclear energy vegetation.
The invasion plan reportedly detailed plots to seize Ukraine’s nuclear energy vegetation with the intention to shelter Russian troops, achieve management over the nation’s vitality system, and probably blackmail European international locations with the danger of radiation air pollution.
Russia deliberate to begin the invasion with a “huge missile and airstrike marketing campaign” in opposition to Ukrainian navy targets, RUSI stated.
It added that Moscow wouldn’t goal important infrastructure equivalent to energy stations and railways as a result of these had been key to its plans to occupy the nation.
Eliminating Ukrainian officers
The Russian counterintelligence regime had compiled lists of some Ukrainians, RUSI stated.
They had been divided into 4 classes:
- Those that ought to be killed
- These in want of suppression and intimidation
- These thought-about impartial who ought to be inspired to collaborate
- These ready to collaborate.
Officers deliberate to register the inhabitants by door-to-door sweeps and filtration camps, the assume tank stated.
Russia additionally reportedly deliberate the coerced cooperation of regional governors and native authorities, and the FSB had been tasked with capturing native officers.
Over time, it deliberate to carry academics and different officers from Russia to begin the “re-education of Ukrainians”.
