General Ben Hodges Highlights Ongoing Conflict Since 2014 and Impact of Oil Strikes on Moscow

Duration of the Conflict and Its Impact

According to ХВИЛЯ: General Ben Hodges, former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, emphasized that the war between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, not just starting in 2022. Currently, Russian forces hold control over roughly 19% of Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed more than half of Russia’s oil and gas processing infrastructure. According to the analytical firm Kpler, by mid-July, 58% of Russian oil facilities were either damaged or inactive.

Russia’s oil refining industry has hit its lowest output in 21 years. In the first eight months of 2026, drones have targeted Russian oil refineries approximately every three days. By late August 2026, only five major Russian refineries remained undamaged. General Hodges stressed that without revenue from oil and fuel exports, Moscow will struggle to sustain its military efforts.

The Role of Allied Political Commitment

The general also pointed out the lack of sufficient political determination among Ukraine’s allies to secure its victory. He remarked:

'People say Ukraine cannot defeat Russia. Of course it can. War is a test of will and logistics.' General Ben Hodges

Hodges highlighted that European nations have the power to change the course of the conflict by acting together. He proposed unlocking over €120 billion in frozen Russian assets, most of which are held in Belgium, as a potential resource to support Ukraine.

Furthermore, he noted that even the Biden administration has stopped short of declaring an outright victory for Ukraine as its goal, focusing instead on maintaining a strong negotiating position. This underscores the critical need for sustained international backing and political resolve to achieve success.

General Hodges’ insights shed light on the prolonged and complex nature of the Ukraine conflict, which has now lasted over eight years. Russia’s territorial control and significant damage to its energy sector could severely limit its ability to keep fighting. However, the insufficient political will among Western allies remains a major obstacle to Ukraine’s victory, calling for enhanced strategic cooperation and robust international support.