Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov has warned that Russia remains committed to its imperial ambitions and sees the countries of the former Warsaw Pact as part of its long-term expansion plans. Speaking at a conference in Kyiv marking the third anniversary of Russia ’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine , Budanov emphasized that the Kremlin has not abandoned its strategic objectives. He stated that Russia does not view itself as a federation but as an empire that requires