Russia Possesses Resources to Wage War Through 2028, Despite Economic Weakness, Says Ukrainian Intelligence
Russia, despite being economically weaker than at the start of the full-scale war, likely possesses enough resources to continue fighting through 2027 and 2028, according to Oleh Ivashchenko, Chief of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR). Ivashchenko stated in an interview that Russia's main economic challenges include a shortage of labor resources, a growing federal budget deficit, and a deteriorating banking system. However, he emphasized that these issues have not yet crippled Russia's ability to sustain its military operations. Kyiv's wartime strategy has increasingly focused on long-range drone strikes against Russian refineries, oil depots, factories, and tankers, aiming to undercut the Kremlin's revenues and increase economic pressure. These strikes have reportedly disabled about 40% of Russia's oil-refining infrastructure, leading to fuel shortages and a ban on diesel and gasoline exports. Ukraine has also expanded its targets to include warehouses of online retailers.
