Latest news with #KyryloBudanov
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Russia prepping for massive war? $1.1 trillion military spend raises global alarms
Russia military spending 2025: Russia is laying the groundwork for what could be a large-scale war, and the price tag is massive, according to Ukrainian intelligence, as per a report. The Kremlin plans to spend about $1.1 trillion on equipping military forces with a new supply of weapons over the next 11 years, revealed Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov , as per the Kyiv Independent report. Russia Launches Most Ambitious Weapons Program Since Soviet Era Budanov shared the plans during Ukraine's annual meeting of ambassadors, saying, "There is a total mobilization of politics, economy, and society of the Russian Federation to be ready for the upcoming large-scale war," as quoted in the report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science others Leadership MBA Digital Marketing Healthcare healthcare Degree Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Technology Public Policy Finance PGDM Product Management Others Project Management Design Thinking Cybersecurity Management Data Analytics CXO MCA Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details According to the official, Moscow has launched its most ambitious weapons program since the collapse of the Soviet Union, as Russia is mobilising all sectors of society to support its military buildup, as reported by Kyiv Independent. ALSO READ: Romance alert: Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson are officially an item, sources say Two New Military Districts: Moscow and Leningrad As part of its sweeping reforms, Russia has already created two new military districts, Moscow and Leningrad, and is preparing to build out more divisions and units, as reported by Kyiv Independent. Live Events Ukraine Says Russia Seeks to Reshape the Global Order Ukrainian officials say the country is not merely aiming to dominate its immediate region but to challenge the existing global order, according to the report. Budanov said, "Russia seeks to disrupt the current security and economic order," and added that, "For this purpose, Moscow is building up its presence in Africa, primarily using its proxy forces," as quoted in the Kyiv Independent report. ALSO READ: Olympic heroine dies young: Laura Dahlmeier passes away in Pakistan - what happened to her? Hybrid Warfare He warned that Russia is already conducting hybrid operations abroad, like cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to undermine democracies, according to the report. Budanov pointed out that, "Moscow's goal is to impose on countries its own vision of the future world order, where 'big' states, primarily the Russian Federation, have full power, a monopoly on all critical resources and decide the fate of the world in a closed circle," as quoted in the Kyiv Independent report. NATO on High Alert: Could Russia Strike by 2030? These revelations echo concerns voiced by Western intelligence services, as per the report. Last year, Germany's spy chief Bruno Kahl warned that Russia could have the capability to strike NATO as early as 2030, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. Russia's Military Budget Surpasses All of Europe Combined Currently, Moscow's defense budget has surpassed that of all European nations combined, according to the report. In 2024 alone, Russia's defense spending jumped 42% to $462 billion, edging out Europe's collective $457 billion defense budget, according to data of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, reported the Kyiv Independent. WWII-Level Military Mobilization Possible Previously, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 30 that Russia was prepared to scale up its war effort to levels last seen in World War II, pointing out that "millions" of civilians are supporting the military by donating supplies and equipment, as reported by Kyiv Independent. While the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi had estimated in April that Russia could get about 5 million trained reservists, with a broader mobilization potential of 20 million, according to the Kyiv Independent. FAQs Is Russia spending $1.1 trillion on its military? Yes. According to Ukraine's intelligence chief, Russia plans to invest $1.1 trillion in rearmament over the next 11 years, as per the Kyiv Independent report. Why is Russia increasing its military budget? Ukrainian officials believe it's part of a long-term plan to prepare for a possible large-scale war and to challenge global power structures, as per the Kyiv Independent report.
Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Ukraine's intelligence chief says Zelensky crisis could ‘tear apart' country
Ukraine's spy chief has warned that the country could be 'torn apart' by the crisis that has erupted since Volodymyr Zelensky passed his controversial corruption reform. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said 'history has taught us that a nation loses if it is torn apart by internal contradictions'. His remarks came hours after the president stripped the country's two key anti-corruption agencies of their independence. 'Internal contradictions should be resolved through open dialogue,' Mr Budanov said as protests broke out across the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro. 'I am sure that Ukraine will be saved by a strong army and institutions,' he added. 'We must show wisdom and responsibility.' It was not clear if the renowned 39-year-old leader of the Main Intelligence Unit (GUR) was addressing critics of the move or the presidential administration itself, which has faced a fierce backlash from civil society and Ukraine's international partners.
New York Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Zelensky Faces Criticism Over Effort to Rein In Corruption Agencies
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was facing growing domestic pressure on Wednesday over a measure to curb the independence of anticorruption agencies, even as he defended it as necessary to root out 'Russian influence' in the agencies. Mr. Zelensky signed into law on Tuesday a bill limiting the independence of two investigative agencies that have been leading efforts to root out corruption. The move has been met with street protests and a rebuke from allies, and it has apparently caused divisions within his government. The director of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, one of the most senior security officials in Ukraine's wartime leadership, posted a rare statement on domestic policy that appeared to criticize the move. The statement, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, did not directly condemn the law, but General Budanov called for Ukraine to maintain strong 'institutions,' particularly during the war. 'I am certain that strong armed forces and institutions will save Ukraine,' he wrote. He also called for unity. In his first public comments on the law, Mr. Zelensky posted a video statement after 1 a.m. on Wednesday calling the measure necessary for removing 'Russian influence' from the anticorruption groups. The domestic intelligence agency had on Monday searched homes of investigators, accusing some of having ties to Russia. 'The anticorruption infrastructure will continue to work, only without Russian influence,' Mr. Zelensky said. 'That must be cleansed.' Critics say no plausible evidence has been made public of anticorruption investigators' having ties to Russia. Several thousand protesters gathered late on Tuesday in Kyiv and other cities, despite risks of missile attacks, to protest the new law, the first significant street action against Mr. Zelensky in the three and half years since Russia's all-out invasion. Dmytro Koziatynsky, a war veteran who organized the protests, called on Ukrainians to come out again on Wednesday evening. Mr. Zelensky's critics say the president has overstepped his authority under the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion by investigating or imposing financial restrictions on media organizations, nongovernmental groups and opposition politicians. The weakening of the anticorruption agencies is the latest in a string of steps he has taken to consolidate his power, they say. The agencies had been investigating senior members of his government, including a deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov, who was charged with corruption on June 23 after being accused of taking kickbacks in a real estate deal. The Ukrainian Parliament, in which Mr. Zelensky's party has a majority, had passed the law on the same day that he signed it. The two agencies it affects are the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine and a specialized prosecutorial office that pursued its cases. The law gives Ukraine's prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president, new power over the agencies. The two bodies were created after pro-Western street protests in 2014 and have been strongly backed by countries providing financial aid to Ukraine. Ukraine's main Western military backers and financial supporters in the Group of 7 issued a statement expressing concerns about the law. 'We all have a shared commitment to support transparency, independent institutions, and good governance, and we value our partnerships in Ukraine to combat corruption together,' the statement on X said. In comments that appeared to be at odds with General Budanov's statement, Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the domestic intelligence agency, voiced his support for the new law in comments to Ukrainian journalists on Tuesday. Mr. Malyuk characterized the independent agencies as having been unconstitutional. 'Under the constitution, there can be only one general prosecutor in the country,' he said. Oleksandr Chubko contributed reporting from Kyiv.
Bloomberg
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ukraine Spy Chief Says 40% of Russian Ammunition Is North Korean
North Korea is now supplying as much as 40% of Russia's ammunition for the war in Ukraine as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence. Kim Jong Un's regime is also sending other weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles and artillery systems, Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Russia is providing money and technology to North Korea in return, helping to ease Pyongyang's international isolation, he said.
AllAfrica
23-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
North Korea overtakes Iran as Russia's partner of choice
North Korea is no longer just supplying Russia with manpower and missiles. It is embedding itself deep within Russia's war economy, sending thousands of workers to the heart of its drone industry and reshaping the balance of power in Eurasia. This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that 25,000 North Korean workers are being sent to Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan to assist with the manufacturing of Shahed drones, part of a deal reportedly brokered during Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang. Satellite imagery reveals new dormitory construction at the Alabuga site, indicating Russia's intention to increase drone production from 2,000 to 5,000 units per month. Ukrainian intelligence chief Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov confirmed this development, citing the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea and warning of the strategic implications for both Ukraine and South Korea. He added that some North Korean workers may be contracted into the Russian defense service. The Alabuga plant, repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian strikes, remains a critical node in Russia's standoff strike capability, particularly amid high attrition from its war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly assisting North Korea in enhancing the accuracy of KN-23 missiles, long-range air-to-air munitions, and submarine-launched systems. The transfer of labor and technology underscores tightening bilateral military ties as both regimes confront isolation and intensifying global scrutiny. Russia may be shifting its partnership of convenience from Iran to North Korea. As Iran falters under Israeli and US airstrikes and unfulfilled Russian arms deals, North Korea pulls ahead, embedding itself in Russia's war machine and Far Eastern strategy. While Russia and Iran have a long history of distrust and conflict, their mutual disdain for the Western-dominated international order, autocratic governments and heavily sanctioned economies in the aftermath of the former's invasion of Ukraine has placed them in the same boat. Iran has sought to make itself indispensable to Russia's war effort by supplying Shahed drones, tactical gear, and artillery in exchange for revenue and to avoid diplomatic isolation. It may have also sought Russian investment in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Yet as Russia transitioned to a war economy and began producing Shahed drones locally, Iran's leverage may have declined, undercutting the latter's efforts to extract security guarantees or financial backing from the former. Furthermore, while Iran has consistently requested advanced Russian equipment, such as Su-35 fighter jets, these deliveries have not yet materialized, as Russia may need those fighters more urgently in its conflict with Ukraine. In October 2024, Israel destroyed Iran's prized S-300 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers, leaving the latter exposed to current air attacks. While Iran has downplayed the need to purchase the more advanced S-400 from Russia, citing the superior capabilities of its domestic systems, this could be a cover-up for Russia's refusal to provide such systems for the same reason it has withheld Su-35 fighters. However, Israeli strikes on Iran present mixed implications for Russia. For one, while such strikes may have undermined Russia as a credible partner, strikes on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure may have eliminated Iran as a competitor to Russian energy exports. Yet, these gains may be short-lived. Israel admits that its strikes are not sufficient to destroy Iran's nuclear program and that the goal is to pressure Iran back into negotiations. Furthermore, it is unknown how Iran would respond in the aftermath. A nuclear-armed Iran may ultimately undermine Russia's influence. Russia may have less leverage over a nuclear-armed Iran, potentially triggering a Middle East nuclear arms race, with Saudi Arabia stressing that it will develop nuclear weapons if Iran gets the bomb. Despite that possible long-term setback, Israeli strikes may distract the US from Ukraine, drawing attention and resources away from confronting Russia. It also allows Russia to point out US 'double standards,' with the US distancing itself from Israeli combat operations in Gaza while supporting Israeli strikes on Iran that have caused civilian casualties. As Iran buckles under sustained Israeli and now US strikes, North Korea is stepping into the breach, presenting an entirely different set of nuances. North Korea and Russia share deep ties dating back to the Korean War, and the former's nuclear arsenal arguably makes it a safer long-term investment for the latter. North Korea has deepened its role in Russia's war effort, providing matériel and manpower while reaping combat insights, hard currency, and access to advanced systems. North Korea's interest in supporting Russia in Ukraine may be to reduce its overdependence on China, its main political and economic lifeline, to maintain strategic autonomy and regime survival. These aims may clash with China's goal of maintaining stability in the Korean Peninsula. Arguably, North Korean missile tests pose a threat to China just as much as they are to Japan and South Korea, prompting China to threaten to scale down political and economic ties with North Korea. To those ends, North Korea is actively developing nuclear delivery systems with possible Russian assistance, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could reach the US mainland and nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) that ensure a second-strike capability. While a belligerent North Korea serves China and Russia's mutual interest of undermining the Western-dominated international order, it remains uncertain whether this wartime alignment will evolve into a lasting partnership once the guns fall silent in Ukraine. Despite Russia being heavily sanctioned, it still seeks to resume trade with the US, raising doubts about the long-term growth of Russia-North Korea relations. However, beyond the Russia-Ukraine War, Russia may use North Korea as leverage against China's growing presence, economic influence, and territorial ambitions in the Russian Far East, strengthening economic, political, and military ties to form a buffer state. In turn, North Korea maintains its autonomy by balancing ties between Russia and China, with its nuclear arsenal providing a strategic backstop against regime change. With Iran sidelined and China's shadow growing, North Korea is fast becoming Russia's most dangerous and dependable ally, fueling its war machine, fortifying its eastern flank, and tilting Eurasia's strategic balance in Russia's favor.
