Next year, Ukrainian spies plan to intensify intelligence operations and carry out sabotage in the depths of Russian-controlled territory in order to bring the war as close as possible to the Kremlin, the head of the SBU (SBU), Vasyl Malyuk, told Politico, News.ro reports.

“We cannot reveal our plans. They must remain a shock to the enemy. We are preparing surprises,” said Major General Vasyl Malyuk in response to written questions. “The occupiers must understand that they will not be able to hide. We will find the enemy everywhere,” he warned.

The kid, although he refrained from details, gave some hints. Apparently, the focus will continue to be on logistical facilities and military equipment in the Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russians, but there will also be strikes across the border, writes Politico.

“Cotton will burn”

“We are always looking for new solutions. So the cotton wool will continue to burn,” said Malyuk jokingly. The word “wool” is what Ukrainians call explosions in Russia and in the occupied territories of Ukraine, organized by Ukrainian special services. The term originates from the mass media, and Russian officials use this word to describe an increasing number of similar incidents cottonwhich means both “explosion” and “cotton” in Russian.

Fighting on hundreds of kilometers of the front line has practically not been going on for most of this year, the bold actions of the Security Service of Ukraine boost the morale of Ukrainians, and also affect Russia’s combat capability. “The SBU conducts targeted targeted strikes. We stick the enemy with a needle right in the heart. Each of our special operations pursues a specific goal and produces results. All this in a complex makes it difficult for the Russian Federation to wage war and brings our victory closer,” Malyuk explained.

With “Malyuk” they hunt Russian ships

The area of ​​interest will be the Crimea and the Black Sea, based on this year’s operations.

Malyuk’s favorite project is the Sea Baby drone, in Ukrainian it is actually called maliuk, which means “small”. The drone carries 850 kilograms of explosives and is capable of operating in stormy conditions, making it difficult to detect. “We are gradually displacing the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation from Crimea with these small ones,” Malyuk emphasizes.

This type of drone was used in July to attack the Kerch Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea with the Russian mainland, and to strike Russian ships.

In October 2022, SBU naval drones attacked Sevastopol Bay, damaging four Russian warships. This year, drones hit two missile carriers, an oil tanker, an amphibious assault ship, and damaged a large military tugboat and the newest Russian reconnaissance ship. The attacks forced Moscow to move much of its fleet from its base at Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, leaving the western sea free of Russian ships and allowing Ukraine to resume use of its ports for shipping.

“Legitimate purpose for us”

The Kerch bridge is still operational after a mine attack in 2022 and another attack this year, but it’s only partially open, Malyuk says. “For us, this is a legitimate goal in accordance with international law and the rules of war. Ukrainian legislation also allows us to attack this goal. And we must destroy the material and technical support of our enemy,” Malyuk added.

The SBU chief says Ukraine carefully analyzes its targets before striking – trying to stay within the rules of war, unlike Russia, which has fired missiles, artillery and drones at both military and civilian targets.

“When planning and preparing its special operations, the SBU carefully selects its targets. We act on military facilities or on those that the enemy uses to carry out its military tasks. We act fully in accordance with the norms of international law,” Malyuk assures.

The SBU conducts most of its operations on the territory of Ukraine – in Donbas, Crimea and the Black Sea. “This is our territory, and we will use all possible methods to liberate it from the occupiers,” Malyuk said.

As for planning attacks in Russia, the SBU says it only focuses on targets used for military purposes, such as logistical corridors for the supply of weapons – for example, two explosions occurred in a railway tunnel in Siberia (the SBU did not claim responsibility) , as well as warships, military bases and other similar targets.

“All SBU operations that you hear about are exclusively our work and our unique technical development,” said Malyuk. “These operations became possible, in particular, because we develop and implement our technical solutions,” he explained.

Russia should prepare for a strike, Politico concludes.

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