"Russia is preparing 200,000 new soldiers": Zaluzhnyi does not rule out Russian attack on Kyiv from Belarus

Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi said this in an interview with The Economist.

"Our troops are all now tied up in battle, they are bleeding. They are bleeding and held together solely because of the courage, heroism and ability of their commanders to keep the situation under control," he noted.

According to him, important strategic task for Ukrainian Armed Forces is to "create reserves and prepare for war that may take place in February, at best in March, and at worst - at the end of January."

"It may start not in Donbas, but in the direction of Kyiv from Belarus, I do not rule out the southern direction," Zaluzhnyi emphasized.

"Russians are training about 200,000 new soldiers. I have no doubt that they will try to attack Kyiv once again," he added.

• On December 3, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces, told the head of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, about the need for air defense. 

• On December 13, US State Department commented on the possibility of providing Patriot systems to Ukraine, calling supply of air defense equipment a priority.