As Russian rockets and drones continue to pound Ukrainian cities as the war continues into its 4th year, Maj.-Gen. Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, has little time for event. He’s seen excessive, heard a lot of lies, and viewed a lot of civilians pass away to mince words.
” Russia lies, Russia eliminates, Russia never ever satisfies the treaties it indications,” he informed The Jerusalem Post “And another thing– Russia just comprehends the language of force.”
From his workplace in Kyiv, Skibitsky’s message is both plain and immediate. Ukraine, he stated, is not simply safeguarding its own area however is a forward line in an international fight versus a growing axis of authoritarian programs. Russia’s war versus Ukraine, he argued, is not a local dispute. It is the collapse of an international order.
” We see that Russia has actually successfully ruined the world order that existed after The second world war,” Skibitsky discussed. “This is the biggest war in Europe ever since, and Moscow began it, and has no objective of ending it.”
The war in Ukraine is being combated on more than one front. There is the noticeable front– the scorched cities, the tank advances, the drone strikes– however likewise an undetectable one: a war of intelligence, adjustment, and survival. Skibitsky has actually been at the heart of that 2nd fight.
Among Ukraine’s essential obstacles has actually been countering Russia’s usage of progressing rocket and drone innovation.
” Ballistic rockets are challenging to shoot down,” he confessed, pointing out the attack on Kryvyi Rih recently, which eliminated 20 civilians to date, consisting of 9 kids. “Russia devoted yet another war criminal activity by utilizing a ballistic rocket with cluster munitions versus a suburb– basically targeting yards where kids were playing.”
He explained how Russia’s rockets are ending up being more difficult to obstruct, and its drones deadlier. “Shahed-type drones, which Russia got from Iran and now produces under the name ‘Geran,’ are being updated. They’re utilizing jet engines and are explore bigger warheads– approximately 90 kgs. Even the internal structure is being altered.”
Skibitsky comprehensive how Russian engineers, constructing on Iranian plans, have actually transferred important systems such as the flight controller, battery, and power circulation system from the drone’s nose to the tail. This not just modifies flight characteristics however likewise makes complex interception efforts.
” These are no longer simply Iranian drones,” he stated. “They’re the item of joint technological development in between 2 programs. And they are progressing quickly.”
In this cat-and-mouse arms race, Ukraine is adjusting. “War speeds up advancement. Ukraine now has its own interceptor drones that can target the Shaheds at 5,000 meters elevation, reaching speeds of approximately 200 kph,” he stated. “These ‘Shahed killers’ have actually currently shown reliable in fight.”
Skibitsky credited the Ukrainian Flying force and electronic warfare systems with the majority of the drone and rocket interceptions. However he fasted to mention that this is a cumulative battle.” Our professionals record the foreign parts in these weapons– parts that Russia still gets in spite of sanctions,” he stated. “There need to be more pressure on those making it possible for Russia’s war criminal activities.”
For Ukraine’s leading intelligence authorities, Iran’s growing military-industrial partnership with Russia is a deepening issue.
” Apart from providing Shahed attack drones and the innovation for their production on Russian soil, we have actually not observed higher Iranian participation in fight operations,” Skibitsky clarified. “However that does not make Iran’s function any less unsafe.
” In January 2025, Russia and Iran signed a tactical collaboration arrangement that consists of military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and logistical assistance,” he stated. Plainly, such interaction assists Russia wage war versus Ukraine and likewise increases threats for the security circumstance in the Middle East and Africa.
While speculation has actually distributed in Western media about Iran possibly providing Russia with Fath-360 rockets– short-range ballistic systems efficient in accuracy strikes– Skibitsky stated Ukraine’s intelligence has actually not yet validated such transfers.
Still, the ramifications of Iran’s collaboration with Moscow extend well beyond drone supply.” Tehran is not just assisting Moscow scale up drone production– in return, Iran gets enhanced military innovation and experience in contemporary technological warfare,” he informed the Post. “This is a two-way exchange, and it’s speeding up.”
The outcome, he stated, is a shared upgrade: Iran acquires real-world screening and improvement of its drone systems, while Russia continues to release barrages of Iranian-engineered horror throughout Ukrainian skies.
This collaboration isn’t practically Ukraine,” Skibitsky cautioned. “It has to do with Iran’s future hazard forecast in the Middle East. Every strike versus Ukraine with Iranian-designed weapons teaches Tehran something brand-new about how to eliminate the next war, potentially versus Israel or other local states.
The expansion of Russian military collaborations includes an additional layer of intricacy.” Russia and North Korea are now working carefully,” Skibitsky stated. “The KN-23 rockets Pyongyang provided were at first extremely incorrect, however after Russian experts improved them, they ended up being substantially more accurate. That’s a danger not simply to us however to the worldwide neighborhood.
” We have actually long stated that cooperation in between criminal programs in the military-industrial complex is a threat to all civilized countries,” he cautioned.
This network of malign partnership– Russia, Iran, North Korea– presents not simply a military hazard however a political one.
” Moscow is increasing its footprint in Syria. It is destabilizing Africa through arms deliveries and mercenaries. It continues to interrupt peace throughout several continents,” he stated. Russia is not simply a danger to Ukraine or Europe. It is a danger to the whole world.”
Ukraine’s intelligence services have actually been changed by war
” Our military intelligence has actually enhanced in every method– human, technical, and area intelligence,” Skibitsky stated. The Ministry of Defense’s Main Intelligence Directorate has actually turned into one of the most vibrant and adaptive arms of the Ukrainian state.
” Our cooperation with the CIA and other partner firms has actually been deep and equally advantageous,” he stated. “We thank the United States for its assistance, however this is not one-sided. We share what we discover. Together, we are more powerful.”
When it comes to relations with Israeli intelligence, “Completely expert,” he kept in mind just. It is a brief however informing remark from a male who states bit he does not imply.
Inquired About Donald Trump’s go back to power and his promise to “end the war,” Skibitsky was diplomatic however company. “President Trump’s efforts to end the war should have regard,” he stated. “He comprehends how devastating this dispute is. His declarations reveal he wishes to stop the killings.” However, he included, diplomacy alone will not stop Russia. “The genuine concern is whether the Putin program desires peace. Our long experience with Russia informs us: it lies, it eliminates, and it appreciates just force.
” There are no problems in our intelligence-sharing with the United States under President Trump. None,” he clarified. “Our cooperation continues.”
Regardless of years of ruthless battling, Ukraine declines to yield any area.
” Territories inhabited by Russia stay Ukrainian, both in worldwide law and in the eyes of our individuals,” he stated.
” All Russian military centers– whether on our occupied land or inside Russia– are genuine targets,” he stated. “We will never ever acknowledge the profession. That is the will of our country.” In the intelligence neighborhood, this indicates long-lasting preparation. Skibitsky validated that Ukraine is getting ready for every possible postwar situation, consisting of the defense and reintegration of liberated locations. “No matter how settlements conclude, the defend territorial stability continues,” he stated.
Regardless of the opponent’s aggressiveness, fractures are appearing. Skibitsky stated numerous circumstances of Russian soldiers defecting and offering intelligence to the Ukrainians, typically in remarkable style.” We produced an unique job called ‘I Wished to Live’ for Russian soldiers who do not wish to be war bad guys. Numerous have actually given up. Some signed up with Russian volunteer systems battling versus the Kremlin,” he discussed to the Post
Others have actually gone even more. “In Operation Angler, a Russian sailor undermined his own warship– the Serpukhov of the Baltic Fleet,” he stated. A pilot flew his helicopter into Ukraine. A soldier exploded his battalion’s command post before leaving. Another smuggled out injured Ukrainian paratroopers and conserved their lives.
” To Russia, they are deserters. To us, they are individuals who declined to devote criminal activities. They selected justice.”
Though Ukraine and Israel deal with various opponents, Skibitsky thinks there’s much to gain from each other.
” Israel has actually established remarkable abilities in rocket defense. Ukraine is doing the very same, in genuine time, under fire,” he stated. “We now have homegrown interception drones, brand-new electronic warfare systems. That development has actually been sped up by need.
A collaboration in between Ukraine and Israel in the military sphere would be equally advantageous,” he stated. “Both countries understand what it indicates to protect themselves.”
He explained Ukraine’s “drifting” air-defense methods, its usage of deceptiveness to technique inbound rockets, and its decentralized command structure as necessary to survival. “We have actually adjusted due to the fact that we needed to. This is the truth of contemporary war.”
Skibitsky does not amuse impressions about peace coming quickly. “Sadly, the war will not end tomorrow,” he stated. However Ukraine will not yield. We will continue to battle with all offered ways– military and nonmilitary– for every single inch of our land.”
What does the future hold?
” Our intelligence services are prepared for whatever follows,” he stated. “If the war ends tomorrow, we are prepared. If it does not, we continue battling.”
Skibitsky thinks that Ukraine’s function worldwide has actually altered permanently. “We are no longer simply safeguarding ourselves. We belong to a larger resistance versus a world order based upon worry and browbeating,” he stated. “And we will not give up.”
As he spoke, air-raid sirens continued to wail throughout Ukraine. The war is not over. Not by a long stretch. However neither is Ukraine’s willpower.
” We understand who we are. We understand what we are defending,” Skibitsky stated. “And we understand what Russia is.”
His words were clear, pragmatical, and scorching:” Russia eliminates. Russia lies. And Russia will not stop unless it is stopped.”
For Ukraine, which has actually invested over 3 years attempting to describe that to the world, it is a lesson composed in blood, particles, and the ruins of Ukraine.
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