Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov has said it is necessary to continue posing pressure on Russian, particularly in the temporarily occupied Crimea, through airstrikes, sea drones and secret special operations.

Budanov told the Financial Times about the current situation in the aggressor state and the immediate priorities in the war.

"Our units entered Crimea numerous times [last year]," he said, adding that the special forces will continue to conduct active operations.

One of the key tasks of such missions is to destroy the logistics of the Russian occupation army in the temporarily occupied peninsula.

Russia's ongoing attempts to conduct an offensive at the eastern front have not brought any breakthroughs since the of autumn 2023, Budanov said.

"Their latest attempt [to conduct an offensive] has been lasting for two months already. In fact, without result," he said.

The chief of the Ukrainian intelligence also said that losses of the Russian forces near Avdiyivka has significantly increased in the past few weeks. He expressed doubt of Russia's ability to equivalently cover its own army's losses even with North Korea's assistance.