Edges Moscow, Ukraine's Intelligence Chief Says Russia's Military Campaign Is Slowing Down Due To Physical And Moral Exhaustion

Kyrylo Budanov. (Sumber: uscc.org.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukraine's top military intelligence official assessed that the physical and moral exhaustion caused by the fighting had slowed Russia's military campaign.

The televised statement by Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov last Wednesday, was one of the strongest signals by Kyiv that they believe Russia's offensive power may be waning.

"The Russians have seriously slowed down the tempo of their attacks. The reason for this is the exhaustion of their resource base, as well as the moral and physical exhaustion of the fighting," he said.

Previously reported, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia's military campaign in Ukraine was slowing down, deliberately to avoid civilian casualties, at a meeting of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

"We strictly adhere to humanitarian law during special operations. Attacks were carried out with high-precision weapons against military infrastructure facilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including command points, airfields, depots, fortified areas and defense industrial sites," Minister Shoigu explained, as reported by TASS.

"At the same time, every effort is being made to prevent civilian casualties. This is certainly slowing progress, but we are doing it consciously," continued Minister Shoigu.

It is known that Russia quickly seized large parts of southern Ukraine, at the start of the invasion launched by Moscow exactly six months ago. However, they were stuck around Kyiv and repelled to focus east.

Moscow claimed the seizure of the eastern region of Lugansk in early July after a long series of bloody battles, but has not claimed any major territorial gains since.