Ukraine should pursue Russia's terminal defeat, not deterrence alone
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 2
Ukraine should pursue Russia's terminal defeat, not deterrence alone
2 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 2
Lesia Ogryzko of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center says Kyiv should expand deep strikes, anti-drone defences and battlefield robotisation, potentially raising unmanned forces from 5% to 10-20%.
She argues defence should buy time while Ukraine degrades Russia's economy, technology base and war-making capacity, while protecting troops and containing possible Russian mobilisation or heavier remote strikes.
The article says Shahed-type drones pose the sharpest strategic threat, Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors remain scarce, and longer-term options include a European Patriot analogue and moving critical infrastructure underground.
As Ukraine masters robotic warfare, are NATO's military doctrines becoming obsolete?
Is the 'terminal defeat' strategy a blueprint for victory or a gamble on Russia's collapse?
Can Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian oil bankrupt the Kremlin's war machine?
April 2026: Ukraine’s Deep Drone Campaign Cuts Russian Oil Output to Lowest Since 2009 with Severe Ecological Fallout
Overview
In April 2026, Ukraine intensified its long-range drone strikes targeting critical Russian oil infrastructure, severely degrading Russia's refining capacity to its lowest level since 2009. These attacks, especially on the Tuapse Oil Refinery, caused massive fires, toxic pollution, and catastrophic oil spills that forced the evacuation of the town and overwhelmed humanitarian efforts. This campaign is part of Ukraine's broader 'terminal defeat' strategy aimed at irreversibly eroding Russia's economic, technological, sociopolitical, and military capabilities. To sustain this asymmetric warfare, Ukraine rapidly innovates in drone and robot technologies while countering Russia's mass drone attacks. Meanwhile, Russia responds with emergency measures, diplomatic pressure, and propaganda, intensifying regional security tensions and straining international support.