The Russian military is regrouping in eastern Ukraine and plans to move towards Kharkiv.

Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, stated this in an interview with CNN.

"They are regrouping toward the city of Izyum through Belgorod. They are moving through Belgorod. They are introducing additional troops into Belgorod to make up for their losses in Ukraine," said Major General Kirill Budanov, head of intelligence for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

He also noted that the Russian military is primarily planning to attack Kharkiv.

"They will try to finish off Mariupol and only after that may try to proactively attack Kyiv," Budanov added.

The intelligence chief called on Ukraine's allies to provide serious military support to help counter the Russian offensive.

He said heavy artillery, surface-to-air missiles and combat aircraft are needed for use against Russian ground forces.

"Ukraine needs really serious support with heavy weapons, and we don't need it tomorrow, we need it today," he said.

Budanov stressed that the weaknesses of the Russian army have manifested themselves in Ukraine. According to him, the occupiers were defeated near Kyiv, and their military efforts were hampered by logistics.