During the two years of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted many successful special operations. Ukraine military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov explained in more detail how he and his team managed to achieve such results.
What is the secret of the success of DIU?
According to Kyryll Budanov, after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine significantly increased its staff.
The maximum increase was subject to combat, operational-combat units and technical intelligence. The direction of cyber intelligence has been significantly strengthened
Kyrylo Budanov
Ukraine military spy chief
As the head of Ukrainian intelligence notes, against the background of the growing scale of information obtained, his team strengthened the analytical direction and implemented new services for technical data processing based on artificial intelligence.
In addition, DIU widely uses the capabilities provided by intelligence agencies of partner countries.
For example, information about missile launches from borders that we cannot cover with our radio-electronic and radio-technical intelligence is often critically important for us. This help is invaluable for us, Kyrylo Budanov said.
Also, DIU continues to actively help partisan groups operating on the territory of the aggressor country.
However, what is important to understand is that this is not as widespread a phenomenon as it sometimes seems.
What is the role of the agency during the war with Russia
Kyrylo Budanov draws attention to the fact that during the war, it was the agency tasked not only with obtaining important data, but also with carrying out special active measures.
The head of the DIU confirmed that it was thanks to the agency's intelligence that Ukraine was able to receive data about the Russian attack on February 24, 2022 in advance.
If we relied solely on electronic, radio, or cyber intelligence, we would not be ready, we would not understand that an invasion was coming, and we would not have time to prepare.
Kyrylo Budanov
Ukraine military spy chief
