Kyrylo Budanov on Russian Society and Ukrainian Drone Strikes
According to Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Russian society was unprepared for the scale of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks. Speaking at the 'Security Architecture' forum, Budanov explained that since late 2022, Ukraine has systematically intensified strikes on targets inside Russia.
'Their society was not ready for drones and missiles to fly in en masse. It came as a shock to them,' he stated.
Budanov also emphasized that Russia had failed to mentally or informationally prepare its population for regular drone strikes from Ukraine. Regarding recent Russian systems like 'Kedr' and 'Orieshnik,' he described them as primarily demonstrative in nature.
'Kedr, Orieshnik, and similar developments—you shouldn't dwell on them too much, because they are first and foremost a display tool,' Budanov said.
Scenarios for Ending Hostilities
The head of the Presidential Office believes the real threat to Ukraine comes from standard Russian weaponry, particularly ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as attack drones. He considers a scenario where the active phase of hostilities ends by November to be realistic.
'Since over all these years they (the Russians) haven't been able to, I think they won't be able to,' Budanov stressed, echoing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's assessment of the need to end the war as quickly as possible.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, also shared his views on the situation. He stated that Russia uses threats of massive strikes and uncertainty around 'ceasefires' as elements of psychological pressure. Yusov urged citizens to heed air raid warnings, noting that since the start of the full-scale war, there have been no practice alerts in Ukraine. The realization of any scenario to end hostilities depends on the actions of both Ukraine and Russia.
Budanov's remarks highlight a significant evolution in military operations between Ukraine and Russia, pointing to the unexpected nature of large-scale attacks for Russian society. The growing intensity of Ukrainian strikes signals shifts in both defensive and offensive strategies that could shape the conflict's trajectory. At the same time, the expressed hopes for ending the active phase of fighting by November reflect aspirations for peace talks and a halt to violence, though the actual course of events remains uncertain given the war's unpredictability.
As the conflict continues to evolve, the challenges facing the Russian military are becoming increasingly apparent. A recent report highlights the severe personnel shortages within the Russian Army, which may impact its operational effectiveness amid ongoing drone strikes from Ukraine. For a deeper understanding of how these personnel issues are affecting Russia's military strategy, you can read more about the current state of the Russian Armed Forces.