The intelligence chief believes that this year Russia will focus on occupying a larger area in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

 He also considers it unlikely that the offensive from Belarus will resume. According to him, such a step can only indicate an intention to distract and divide the Defense Forces.

 Budanov does not believe that the entry of Ukrainian troops into the occupied Crimea will prompt Putin to use nuclear weapons.

 "Russia is a country from which you can expect a lot, but not outright idiocy. I'm sorry, but this will not happen," he said.