Danilov: ‘Ukraine’s national interest is Russia’s disintegration’

Oleksiy Danilov rarely cracks a smile.

The gruff-looking 60-year-old National Security and Defense Council secretary doesn't have much to smile about.

One year after their botched attempt to dismantle Ukrainian statehood, Russians are expected to launch another major offensive in an attempt to turn the tide of the war.

The next few months will be decisive in bringing Ukraine closer to victory, Danilov told the Kyiv Independent during an interview.

"We want 2023 to be the year of victory, but we are realists, and I think that the West doesn't know what to do with Russia," he said.

Ukraine's strategy is simple, he said: Ukraine needs more weapons, and it needs them as fast as possible to "liquidate Russians."

"We need tanks to defend ourselves and develop counter-offensives," Danilov said. "We need cannons, shells, tanks, rockets, planes, and we needed them by yesterday."

Reznikov, who took his position in November 2021, said he was ready to resign if Zelensky made such a decision.

Ukrainian newspaper ZN.UA released a report on Jan. 21 that the Defense Ministry was purchasing some food for the military at inflated prices, citing the ministry's food procurement contract for 2023.

Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence have summoned top ministry officials to address the allegations.

Ukraine's military faces a dilemma when it comes to revealing corruption and full transparency.

The topic of defense procurement during the war is sealed, Danilov said, calling it a "very complicated question" while being confident Reznikov would take the steps needed to tackle corruption.

While Reznikov called the report false and asked the Security Service to look into the people involved in spreading the information, Danilov defended Ukraine's freedom of speech, saying it guarantees a healthy society.

"If the freedom of speech disappears, then society disappears as well," he said. "That's what happened in Russia."

He cited the kidnapping and murder of Georgiy Gongadze, a Ukrainian journalist killed near Kyiv in 2000, allegedly after then-President Leonid Kuchma gave orders to “deal” with him. Kuchma denies it.

"The case of Gongadze should be a warning for anybody who wants to shut the mouths of journalists," he said. "Sooner or later, everybody will know everything."

Note from the author:

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