Ukraine: intelligence warns Russia planning new ground offensives toward Kyiv and Chernihiv
Kyiv says commanders were ordered by the Kremlin to plan attacks on both cities, but no evidence yet of forces assembling for an assault.
Ukraine says its intelligence services have information that Russia is planning new ground offensives aimed at Kyiv and Chernihiv, the Ukrainian government office said on Sunday. Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the office of Volodymyr Zelensky, told reporters that Russian military commanders received orders from the Kremlin to plan and prepare strikes against both cities.
Signs but no confirmed troop buildup, officials say
Palisa stressed that, at this stage, Kyiv has not detected a concentrated Russian force massing for an attack. "There is still no evidence that Russian troops are gathering forces to carry out the attacks. Ukraine's priority is to prevent the creation of conditions for any Russian offensive actions," he said.
Ukrainian officials did not provide specific timelines or detail what elements of the planning had been identified, saying only that the intelligence indicates orders were issued to prepare operations directed at the two northern cities.
The warning revived memories of the early days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, when Russian forces attempted to capture Kyiv and later pulled back after being repelled. Kyiv and Chernihiv lie in the northern part of the country and have strategic importance for approaches toward the capital.
Ukrainian authorities say they are monitoring the situation closely and assessing potential risks. For now, they emphasize readiness measures and steps aimed at denying any opportunity for an offensive to develop.
Officials urged calm but vigilance among residents in northern regions while intelligence and military services continue to verify and follow up on the reported plans.
Photo: AP)
