© 2026 ABC News

\"PHOTO:
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen take part in a joint military training of armed forces, national guards, border guards and Security Service of Ukraine in Rivne region, near the border with Belarus, on February 11, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
>

Nayev said he was in \"constant contact\" with American generals stationed in other parts of Europe.

He said an exchange of data between the Ukrainians and Americans helped the Ukrainian military to pinpoint targets using U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket systems.

\"This work goes perfectly in real-time,\" he said.

Nayev spoke with ABC News at a series of Ukrainian military exercises held Saturday in the Rivne region of northern Ukraine, approximately 40 miles south of the border with Belarus.

\"PHOTO:
Tom Soufi Burridge/ABC News
PHOTO: Lt. Gen. Serhiy Nayev, center, one of the most senior commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
>

During the military exercises, Ukrainian forces simulated how they would defend a major nuclear power plant situated in that region in the event of a fresh Russian invasion from the north.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of last year, Russian troops quickly seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine.

Russia's control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant presents a high-stakes challenge for Ukrainian forces in that part of the country and the Kremlin has often made ominous warnings about the potential for a wartime nuclear disaster at the plant.

\"PHOTO:
Libkos/AP
PHOTO: Soldiers of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) "Azov" approach their armoured U.S. Hummer vehicle in position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.
>

Nayev said Ukraine had a \"good understanding\" of the threat of a Russian assault from the north, underlining that Ukrainian forces are \"not just waiting for them.\"

\"This is the toughest phase of war because the enemy strengthened its forces thanks to new mobilization and their forces are much bigger now,\" Nayev said. \"If we compare the beginning of the war, the number of their infantry troops was around 160,000-180,000 people. Now, it is more than 350,000. Their forces are much bigger and it makes the combat situation more difficult because of the larger number of men.\"

He said Ukraine had increased the number of land mines in the border region by tenfold.

However, the overall commander of Ukrainian forces in the north played down the likelihood of a Russian assault from Belarus in the near term.

Nayev also stressed the need for western partners to supply Ukraine with longer-range missiles so that Ukraine can hit Russian ammunition depots and military command and control centers in eastern and southern Ukraine.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/International/us-surveillance-data-crucial-ukraine-top-commander/story?id=97059698","legacySlug":"/news/story/us-surveillance-data-crucial-ukraine-top-commander-97059698","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"14:06","publishDate":"02-12-2023","updatedTime":"14:09","updatedDate":"02-12-2023","socialImage":{"alt":"Soldiers of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) \"Azov\" approach their armoured U.S. Hummer vehicle in position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.","credit":"Libkos/AP","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/Ukraine-ap-sg-21_hpMain_20230211-195553_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"2/12/2023 14:06:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":97059698,"headline":"US surveillance data crucial for Ukraine ","mediaAssetTitle":"US surveillance Ukraine ","description":"Lt. Gen. Nayev said the surveillance helps accurately pinpoint Russian targets.","duration":"1:11","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/02/230210_gma_burridge_central_709_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"US surveillance data crucial for Ukraine ","description":"Lt. Gen. Nayev said the surveillance helps accurately pinpoint Russian targets.","duration":"1:11","uploadDate":"02-12-2023","publication":"02-12-2023","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/02/230210_gma_burridge_central_709_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/02/230210_gma_burridge_central_709_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/us-surveillance-data-crucial-ukraine-top-commander-97059698"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"US surveillance data crucial for Ukraine ","pubTime":"09:06","pubDate":"02-12-2023","modTime":"09:09","modDate":"02-12-2023","taxonomyTags":"none","id":97059698,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"US surveillance data crucial for Ukraine ","mediaAssetTitle":"US surveillance Ukraine ","videoId":97059698,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/us-surveillance-data-crucial-ukraine-top-commander-97059698"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/97059698","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/97059698","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};