Russia struggles to restore military capabilities after Ukrainian strikes – SBU general

He expressed this opinion during an Espreso broadcast.

"Regarding strikes on military targets or Russia's energy infrastructure, this is an understandable tactic. With these strikes, we have significantly reduced the intensity of their production. The problem for the Russians is not that we are hitting them, but that they lack the ability to repair and restore their capacities. They are forced to take actions, especially on the eve of spring agricultural work; they have to divert fuel from the civilian sector of the economy to the military because the troops constantly need supplies. This leads to public dissatisfaction with the military actions. This is one of the factors. Besides economic strikes, we also have socio-political ones," he noted.

Viktor Yahun pointed out that strikes on Moscow have a different significance. In his opinion, they serve as a psychological attack on Russians who are in a different information space, and due to the explosions, they have to remember that Russia's war against Ukraine is ongoing.

"As for strikes on the central region, especially Moscow, we need to understand that there are fewer military gains there and more socio-political ones. Because when a Ukrainian drone strikes somewhere on Kutuzovsky or some other central streets, even if it was the only one flying to Moscow and demonstrated its presence there, for Muscovites who live in a completely different information space, their own information bubble, it's quite a serious psychological trauma. And they are now actively discussing: 'What's happening? Why do we need this? Haven't we finished the war? Are Ukrainians capable of doing this?' That is, it's more of a psychological attack on the central population of Russia. Let them feel the same as we do," added the retired SBU Major General.

• The unmanned systems forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in coordination with other components of the Defense Forces, carried out strikes on several important targets in Russia on the night of March 4.
• On the night of March 9, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, which was involved in supplying the occupying army.
• On March 10, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that in February, Ukrainian drones hit 22% more enemy targets than in January.
• On the night of March 14, drones attacked an oil refinery near the city of Tuapse in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, causing a fire. Air defense systems were active in Moscow and its suburbs, with reported consequences from "falling debris." Several airports temporarily suspended operations. As a result of the attacks, two gas compressor stations and a missile depot were hit.