No preparatory aggressive measures against Ukraine during Zapad 2021 drills now – Nayev

KYIV. Sept 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – At the moment, during the joint exercises of Russia and Belarus Zapad (West) 2021 there are no preparatory measures for aggression against Ukraine, said commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev.

"These exercises are declared as joint exercises of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. They are held at a known number of training grounds, we know the number of these troops, and at this time, right now, there is no immediate threat, in particular the creation of strike groups, and the corresponding preparatory measures for aggression against Ukraine are not visible," Nayev said on the air of Savik Shuster’s Freedom of Speech (Svoboda Slova) program on Friday.

At the same time, he noted that the situation is dynamic, and the intelligence agencies of Ukraine are monitoring the situation, and the country’s military leaders are aware of the situation.

"We know when, what and what adequate measures to take," Nayev added.

The Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine indicated that in the official legend of the exercises, Ukraine is considered as a neutral state.

"The legend, which is officially delegated by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, sounds like the armed forces of the allied state will fight against illegal armed groups that are on the territory of the allied state. Directly in the official data that they voiced, Ukraine is considered as neutral state. But all this is official, accordingly, we are adults who evaluate not only what we are told, but also what is between the lines," Nayev emphasized.

Nayev clarified that the accumulation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has been carried out at four training grounds in Belarus.

"It is not critical, their total number is 2,500 servicemen, there is a small amount of armored vehicles and a small amount of aviation equipment," he said during the online broadcast of the program.

According to the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has increased the number of detachments that carry out tasks along the state border.

"All the intelligence agencies of Ukraine, which have the appropriate forces and means, receive intelligence information … Directly, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have completed the preparation of certain adequate actions, we have military units that are in different degrees of readiness, we have completed planning, forces and means, and we are ready for an adequate response to strengthen the defense of the state border," he stressed.

Nayev noted that the forces and means of anti-aircraft cover, namely radio-technical troops, are deployed along the border of Ukraine.

"Anti-aircraft missile forces, fighter aircraft have received the appropriate assignments, are also in the appropriate degrees of combat readiness," he added.