General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, spoke at the 20th Annual Yalta European Strategy Meeting.
He detailed the deteriorating situation for the aggressor state, Russia, across military, economic, social, and political spheres. According to Budanov, a significant increase in the negative impact of the war on Russia is expected by late 2025 or early 2026.
“These are their calculations. If they do not emerge as conditional winners by then, they will lose the ability to be a superpower for the foreseeable future, roughly 30 years. The remaining superpowers would be China and the USA. The best Russia can hope for is regional leadership, which is unsatisfactory for them,” he noted.
Budanov also commented on the process of transferring the war to the aggressor's territory, including explosions at Russian military sites. Such attacks impact the Russian population, which supports the war against Ukraine and has grown accustomed to feeling secure, believing that Russia is so powerful that it faces no threats.
“With the first explosions in Moscow, this myth was shattered across Russia. This is the main achievement of these distant strikes,” Budanov explained.
He highlighted the rapid growth of drone usage during the war and indicated that unmanned technologies and electronic warfare means will continue to develop. Budanov emphasized the Ukrainian strength in belief, motivation to fight for their land, and unconventional approaches in decision-making, which he said are lacking in the Russians.
“Ukraine is a land of opportunities. The more I live, the more I see: everything is possible here. We made thousands of drones from scratch. Who could have imagined this two years ago? Our strength lies in our unconventional approach and belief that we can achieve anything. We are fighting for our land, and there are no alternatives for us,” Budanov concluded.
