Ex-Russian Spy Warns of 20 Years of War as 20,000 Gather at St. Petersburg Forum
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Post · Jun 4
Ex-Russian Spy Warns of 20 Years of War as 20,000 Gather at St. Petersburg Forum
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Post · Jun 4
Summary
Andrei Bezrukov, a former SVR colonel and Rosneft adviser, told Russia’s flagship economic forum that the country could remain in a state of war for “a couple of decades.”
Speaking at a session on threats to Russia, he said the conflict could range from “hot war” to a “creeping war,” shaping two generations and marking what he called the “first hump of a world war.”
Bezrukov tied that outlook to shifting global power balances, arguing U.S. hegemony is fading and that a second wave of confrontation could erupt in Asia; he also repeated rejected claims about Western biological warfare.
His warning came as about 20,000 delegates from 130 countries met in St. Petersburg after Ukrainian strikes hit energy and military sites there, undercutting the Kremlin’s showcase of economic resilience.
Bezrukov said Moscow should restructure its economy and state systems for long-term militarization, reinforcing a broader Russian narrative of enduring confrontation with the West.
Can Russia’s strained economy truly afford the 'decades of war' a former top spy is now calling for?
Is Russia’s call for permanent war a genuine strategy or a bluff to mask its growing internal weaknesses?
St. Petersburg 2026 Drone Attacks: Impact on SPIEF, Russian Isolation, and the Economics of Prolonged Conflict
Overview
On June 3, 2026, Ukrainian drones launched a major attack on St. Petersburg, just hours before the start of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). This strike targeted critical infrastructure, including an oil terminal and a naval base, and was timed to disrupt and embarrass Russia on a global stage. The attack overshadowed the forum’s opening, drawing international attention to the conflict’s reach deep into Russian territory. The deliberate timing and choice of targets highlighted Ukraine’s intent to challenge Russia’s sense of security during a key international event.