Everyone thought that Moscow had a strong army, but a weak economy. It turned out to be the opposite. Russia's economy can survive under the current sanctions for quite a long time ," Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said in an interview with "Le Monde".
The main theses:
1. Compared to previous years, since the end of summer 2023, we have observed an increase in the number of ammunition produced by Russia, but we note a decrease in the quality of these shells. Russian missiles have a number of shortcomings - they often miss;
2. Sanctions against Russia are working, but they are not enough - restrictions should affect the main sectors of the economy: energy, metallurgy and the financial system in general. Now Russia is not starving, and at this rate it can hold out for quite a long time;
3. Neither Ukraine nor Russia can conduct offensive operations due to the intensive use of UAVs and the density of minefields, which has not been seen since the Second World War. We know the solutions for drones are modern means of electronic warfare. Mines require specialized equipment;
4. We also need more shells and artillery systems , including old ones that are no longer in use. The issue of quantity is important;
5. There is a shortage of soldiers in Ukraine, it is significant, but not alarming;
6. Those who think abroad that they are tired of Ukraine will have to take care of the Muscovites when they come to occupy their own territories. Captured Russian soldiers say they came to wage war against NATO, and Ukraine is only the first stage.
7. The northern part of the Black Sea is under the control of Ukraine. Gas production platforms are also under control, and sea export corridors are functioning again.
8. Due to regular attacks by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Russians are forced to transfer the fleet to the southeast and are trying to create a naval base in Ochamchir in occupied Abkhazia.
