Panorama of Kharkov, UkraineMOSCOW, 25 Jan. If the situation in Ukraine escalates, eight key regions in the east of the country could come under Russian control. This was stated in an interview with The Times by the commander of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbass, Lieutenant-General Alexander Pavlyuk. According to him, we are talking about such cities as Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odessa. Such a development of events, Pavlyuk said, would deprive Ukraine of its main military and industrial potential, as well as leave the country without access to the Black Sea. The general also accused Europe of unwillingness to help Ukraine. In his opinion, Europe «is in its comfort zone and does not want to act like it did in 1939.» However, in the event of an escalation of the situation, European countries, Pavlyuk suggested, «will be worried — perhaps very worried.» Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky, in an interview with The Washington Post, said that Kharkiv could be under Russian control. Press Secretary of the President of Ukraine Serhiy Nikiforov, commenting on this statement, said that «it was just an example, a hypothetical scenario.» In turn, Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov urged Kharkiv residents not to panic and assured that the city was ready to fight back. has repeatedly rejected accusations by the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», stating that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. Tensions in the region pumped up by the United States and other NATO countries. As Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted earlier, the alliance is increasing arms supplies to Ukraine, where the number of Western instructors has increased. According to the diplomat, this could provoke the Ukrainian authorities «to military adventures,» which poses a direct threat to Russia's security. Moscow believes that the West is trying to create a group of troops near the Russian borders.
