"The war will definitely end; it is a natural process," Budanov said. "And then we will face other tasks that are no less important and no less difficult. This always happens when a nation decides to follow its own untrodden path. I think this is normal. Any movement forward meets with resistance. So when you feel resistance, when it is difficult, it means you are doing everything right.”
The Defense Intelligence head stated that Ukraine is addressing global issues that will have decisive consequences for the history of the Ukrainian state and humanity as a whole, and the new generation of the Ukrainian nation must help the world find answers to these questions.
Spy chief Kyrylo Budanov said on Sept. 30, 2022, that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would enter Crimea by the end of spring 2023.
Budanov predicted in October 2022 that Russia's war against Ukraine would end by summer 2023, and that Ukraine would have significant victories by the end of 2022. On Nov. 11, 2022, Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson.
Budanov stated in March 2023 that by the end of spring, Russia would run out of "military tools" to achieve its goals in Ukraine, and in the spring of 2023, there would be a decisive battle that would be the last in this war.
In December 2023, Budanov stated that Russia has no plans to wage war in 2025 but might adjust its intentions at the end of 2024.
At the end of January 2024, the spymaster claimed that Russia's offensive would be completely exhausted by early spring 2024.