Ukraine will be ‘flooded’ with Russian blood vows general, as country steps up preparations to resist invasion
UKRAINE will be “flooded” with Russian blood if Vladimir Putin orders and invasion, a general has warned.
Oleksandr Syrskyi’s chilling vow comes as Ukraine’s soldiers have been stepping up their preparations to resist the Russian forces massed on the border.
New intelligence now suggests Russia will invade Ukraine this Wednesday, February 16, according to German newspaper Der Spiegel.
Information received by the Secret Service, CIA and other intelligence services has even gone as far to outline the routes that individual Russian units will take, along with the roles they will play, it reports.
And U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington believes Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine any day with America promising a “resolute and massive response”.
General Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces are carrying out drills in the south of the country, including testing new US and UK weapons and practising how to counter airborne assaults.
“The armed forces of Ukraine are ready,” the 56-year-old told Sky News.
“We are capable and we will not give up a single metre of Ukrainian land without a fight.
“We are ready, and we warn them ‘it won’t be a simple walk in the park. Each metre of that land will be flooded with the occupants’ blood’.
Most read in The Sun
“I trust in the Ukrainian servicemembers. I trust in our armed forces and I trust in our victory.”
It was previously widely believed Russia would not attack before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 but the latest intelligence reports have cast doubt on that.
Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to hold crunch talks at 4pm UK time while top US General Mark Milley has spoken with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimo.
But ahead of the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States of seeking to provoke a conflict in Ukraine, during a call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken.
The US Secretary of State, however, warned of a “resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic” response to any Russian invasion.
The imminent threat follows weeks of growing tension as Vladimir Putin’s build-up of troops and tanks continue to threaten Ukraine.
TROOPS HEAD TO UKRAINE
Sullivan echoed President Biden’s call for “all American citizens who remain in Ukraine to depart immediately”.
“We want to be crystal clear on this point. Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours.
“The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands.
“If you stay you are assuming risk, with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and there is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.”
Mr Sullivan said an attack would likely begin with aerial bombing and missile strikes, which would shut down transportation by air, rail, and roads.
His fears were echoed by MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, who also said war was “inevitable”.
At the same time, Russia has been deploying military troops to the Ukraine border as Nato begins beefing up its own forces in the area.
Pentagon said it would send 3,000 combat troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland to join 1,700 troops assembling there.
Last night, Brits were warned to leave Ukraine immediately as the imminent threat of war loomed.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority.
“We urge British nationals in Ukraine to leave now via commercial means while they remain available.”
Threats of a nuclear clash have now soared after it was revealed Russia moved its terrifying “atomic cannon” to within striking distance of a major city.
A battery of self-propelled guns capable of firing nuclear shells have been captured on video in the Russian town of Vesela Lopan, Bolgorod – just 10 miles from the Ukrainian border.
And civilians in Ukraine were attending open military training following reports that some 200,000 fully equipt Russian troops were on its borders.
The besieged country has increased exercises amid fears an invasion may come “at any time”.
INVASION FEARS
Satellite pics revealed six large Russian landing ships, primed to spearhead an amphibious attack, had moved to the Black Sea yesterday.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson said the continent stands at the “most dangerous point” since World War Two after flying to Poland to meet with leaders.
In a gloomy assessment, Mr Johnson said: “We stand on the edge of a precipice and things are as dangerous as I have seen them in Europe for a very, very long time.
“The lesson of the last 100 years is that when Poland is threatened with instability, or aggression on the borders of Poland, then we are all threatened and we’re all affected.”
The Prime Minister stressed the chilling warning on a call with allies last night, including the US, Italy, France and Germany.
And the European Council, the European Commission and NATO chiefs were also listening in following the change of advice for Brits living in Ukraine.
In Poland, Mr Johnson, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nato chiefs and the Polish PM, urged Putin to avoid a “pointless, tragic” conflict.
This came as Vladimir Putin was warned that nuclear war could erupt if Ukraine joins NATO and accused the West of “complete disregard for our concerns” as peace talks failed.
A thousand British troops are now on standby for an invasion on top of the 350 Royal Marines on their way to Poland for joint Arctic warfare drills.
The UK has also offered to send warships and RAF jets, on top of 900 troops in Estonia as part of a Nato deterrence mission.
But armed forces minister James Heappey said British troops helping with training in Ukraine forces to use anti-tank missiles will be leaving the country this weekend.
“All of them will be withdrawn. There will be no British troops in Ukraine if there is to be a conflict there,” he told the BBC.
Russia has been warned it faces financial consequences if it does invade Ukraine.
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly confirmed laws for crippling sanctions had been signed in readiness.
* Read the full story...This article was originally published h
Who will be Next to leave the EU? Check out who is leading in our exclusive poll Poll
Comments
Post a Comment