Against the backdrop of continued tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the Kremlin's massive reinforcements near the border, British intelligence warned today (Sunday) that Russia has already begun preparing the political ground for overthrowing the current regime in Kiev and replacing it with a pro-Russian puppet regime.
According to information provided by the British Foreign Office, Russian intelligence officials have contacted former members of the Ukrainian political system as part of an attempt to bring about a political upheaval, if and when a military attack takes place.
"We will not tolerate any conspiracy to silence a pro-Russian regime in Ukraine," British Foreign Secretary Liz Trasses said on Twitter following the intelligence received.
British Foreign Secretary and President of Ukraine Zalansky,
A source in the British Foreign Office said that the unconventional decision to publish intelligence information stemmed from the need to deter Moscow, which in turn responded that it was "disinformation".
As a reminder, the recent tension has been created around the possibility that Ukraine will join the NATO defense alliance, which for Russia is a red line threatening its well-being.
In recent years Russia has worked to stir up the pro-Russian enclaves in Ukraine, but the recent tensions have created the possibility of full military participation in the struggle of the separatists in Ukraine.
At the same time, Western arms shipments to Ukraine continue all the time to allow it to deal with a possible invasion.
Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zalansky // Photo: Rotiers, AFP,
In the shadow of the crisis: The German navy commander resigned
Meanwhile, German Navy Commander Kay-Ach Schonbach has announced his resignation following controversial statements that "the Crimean peninsula is lost for Ukraine", a statement that provoked severe anger on the part of Kiev, which sees the territory as an integral part of its sovereignty.
Schonbach further said during a security conference in India that Putin should be given "respect" in order to mobilize him to fight China.
Schonbach has been accused by the German media of "belittling the severity of Russian aggression" and is tacitly agreeing with Moscow's conduct.
German Air Force Commander, Photo: Reuters
Meanwhile, diplomatic exchanges of accusations took place between Kiev and Berlin, after German Foreign Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would refrain from sending military aid or forces to Ukraine because such a move "would not help neutralize the explosive situation."
Lambrecht said on the spot that a field hospital would be sent to Israel for use by the Ukrainian army in the event of an outbreak of hostilities in the country.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitau Kolba, attacking the German minister, wrote on Twitter: "Today, the unity of the West vis-à-vis Russia is more important than ever, to achieve this unity and deter the Russian Federation, we must all work together. Our German partners must stop acts "Statements that undermine this unity and encourage Vladimir Putin to carry out another attack on Ukraine."
The United States has ordered embassy staff in Ukraine to leave the country
The US Secretariat yesterday ordered the families of diplomatic staff and embassy staff in Ukraine to leave the country, following growing fears of Russian military action in the Eastern European country, Fox News reported.
In addition, the United States yesterday handed over to Ukraine 90 tons of ammunition, an advanced piece, less than a day after talks between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The ammunition charge landed at Kiev International Airport and the United States Embassy in the country posted a post on the social network Twitter announcing the arrival of the shipment at its destination.
"This shipment of aid was recently announced by President Biden and arrived in Ukraine tonight. It includes no less than 90 tonnes of lethal ammunition for Ukraine's front defenders," the embassy page said.
In Kiev it was estimated last week that Russia has 127,000 troops on its western border and that a Russian attack is a real possibility.
Russia also has 3,000 mercenaries and volunteers in the two rebel provinces in eastern Ukraine and tensions in the area of the confrontation line have peaked as both sides wait for possible Russian action.
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