Top Ukrainian commander says readying for possible new Russian attack from north

Ukraine's top military commander said in an interview broadcast on June 30 that his forces were preparing for a possible new Russian attack from the north, but any attempt to advance on Kyiv was unlikely.



Oleksandr Syrskyi, interviewed on TSN Ukrainian television, also said an attack from neighbouring Belarus was unlikely after weeks of Ukrainian allegations that Moscow was trying to press its ally to play a greater role in the war.



"The most likely scenario, and this is confirmed by several data sources, is possible offensive action in the north from the territory of Russia, from the Bryansk region," Syrskyi said.



"This is a realistic option, of course, and we are preparing for it."



The aim of such an operation, he said, was not to try to move on Kyiv as Russian forces had attempted to do after their February 2022 invasion before withdrawing and focusing on the Donbas region in the east.



Instead, they would try to seize territory in Ukraine's Chernihiv region and draw Ukrainian forces engaged elsewhere along the 1,250km front line.