The deputy prime minister of the Crimean government, Georgy Muradov, warned on Sunday 10 March that any new offensive by the Ukrainian army could spell disaster for Ukraine.
"The potential for a new Ukrainian offensive is obvious. Such a move would not only decimate the Ukrainian armed forces, but also endanger the nation itself, depleting its already strained human resources," Muradov stressed in an interview with Sputnik.
Tensions Escalate in Crimea
Meanwhile, Vladimir Konstantinov, the speaker of the Crimean parliament, stressed that NATO countries are conducting reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea to gather intelligence on possible Ukrainian attacks on the Crimean peninsula.
"NATO's surveillance activities in the Black Sea around Crimea are unmistakable. It's obvious who they're collecting data for and what their intentions are. Crimea in the Black Sea remains a primary target for Ukraine," Konstantinov said.
Konstantinov's comments come amid French President Emmanuel Macron's declaration that Europe could consider sending troops to Ukraine to prevent a Russian victory in the conflict.
In response to Macron's comments, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's press secretary, warned of the possibility of war between Russia and NATO if Western countries proceed with troop deployments in Ukraine.