BAKHMUT, Ukraine — Russia has drawn up plans to install a pro-Kremlin former member of parliament to lead Ukraine as it considers a new invasion of the country and the overthrow of its central government, according to a British assessment shared with BuzzFeed News.
“The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.
The UK assessment comes as Russia continues to amass troops and heavy weapons around Ukraine, including in Belarus.
And it follows other ominous warnings from Western governments in recent days about the high possibility of a large-scale attack.
For its part, Russia has denied it's preparing to again invade Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with BuzzFeed News on Saturday, Lieutenant-General Oleksandr Pavliuk, head of the Joint Forces Operation in eastern Ukraine, expressed serious concern over Russia's military moves.
He said that Russia currently has more than 106,000 soldiers positioned along its western border who are ready to invade his homeland — with more troops on their way. »
