Budanov expressed concern that the "attack" could include "airstrikes, artillery and armored attacks," followed by "airborne attacks in the east of the country", as well as "landing attacks in Odessa and Mariupol" and "a smaller invasion through neighboring Belarus ".

According to the head of the GUR, the exercises "West - 2021" proved Russia's ability to simultaneously land up to 3,500 paratroopers and special operations personnel.

Budanov added that before such "attacks", a series of "psychological operations" are being arranged, which "are already being carried out to destabilize Ukraine and undermine its ability to defend itself."

“They want to make the situation inside the country more and more dangerous and difficult, to create a situation in which we will change the government.

If they cannot achieve this, then the military will do their job, ”said a Ukrainian military official.

He also asked the United States for additional military assistance.

“We need more.

No country except Ukraine has an open war with Russia.

And we have already had seven years.

This is why we are confident that the United States should give us everything that we have not received before.

And right now, ”concluded the head of Ukrainian intelligence.

Earlier, The New York Times, citing American and European sources, reported that the United States had warned its allies in Europe about the risk of a "Russian invasion" of Ukraine.

This was also reported by CBS, according to which representatives of American intelligence services believe that the likelihood of a "invasion" of Russia in Ukraine "grows as the snap gets cold."

Political scientist Vladimir Shapovalov and researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Blokhin, in an interview with RT, explained the publications of Western media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the assumptions about the alleged preparation of the Russian side for the invasion of Ukraine, said that he had not heard about "these alarmist statements."