Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has said that Russia is systematically attacking Kyiv because the capital is one of the centres of Ukraine’s defence industry. Russia is seeking to prevent Ukraine from launching mass production of ballistic missiles and is conducting intensified reconnaissance of UAV-related capabilities, the successful use of which affects Russia’s ability to continue the war.<\/p>\n
Source: Skibitskyi in an interview with RBC-Ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n Quote: “Kyiv, like Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Kharkiv, is one of the centres of our defence industry. The enemy perceives this as a serious threat and is conducting very thorough reconnaissance of two areas of our defence industry. The first is our ballistic missile programme: they are trying to prevent us from starting mass production of these weapons. The second is everything related to UAVs and FPV drones.”<\/p>\n Details: Responding to a question about the purpose of Russia’s systematic attacks on Kyiv and its outskirts two or three times a week, Skibitskyi explained that the capital is at the centre of Ukraine’s defence industry, which Russia regards as a serious threat.<\/p>\n According to Skibitskyi, Ukraine’s mid- and long-range strike capabilities are effective against Russia’s oil refining sector and logistics system, including Wildberries distribution centres. [Wildberries is Russia’s largest online retailer – ed.]<\/p>\n “\u2026and this, in turn, has a significant impact on their banking system, small- and medium-sized businesses, and Moscow’s ability to wage war,” Skibitskyi said.<\/p>\n Skibitskyi also stressed that DIU had previously reported that Russia was capable of carrying out three to four combined attacks per month, involving various types of missiles and drones.<\/p>\n Background:<\/p>\n \u00a0During the interview, Skibitskyi<\/a> said that Russia is increasing missile production for strikes on Ukraine and is meeting 110\u2013120% of its monthly production targets for the main types of missile weapons.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0Skibitskyi also said<\/a> that Russia stopped producing Kinzhal ballistic missiles in April in order to increase production of other, more accurate types of missiles.\u00a0<\/p>\n