08/29/2026
If Ukraine fights exclusively according to the old model of combat operations inherited from the USSR, and is limited to a mirror response to the enemy’s attacks, victory in the war with Russia is impossible, believes the new Minister of Defense Yevheniy Khmara. But the Ukrainians “have a real chance to win,” he is sure. Ukraine needs its own method of waging war.
Such a “fundamentally different” method of conducting combat operations has already been largely formed. Yevgeny Leonidovich told the American publication National Interest about this.
Small Soviet Army
“A small Soviet army cannot defeat a large Soviet army,” the publication quotes the new Ukrainian Defense Minister as explaining why it is impossible to fight the Russian Federation solely using the combat model inherited from the USSR.
Yevheniy Khmara did not reveal the details of what the new model should be, noting that these are “asymmetric strikes” deep inside the aggressor country. Moreover, the new Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatiy, are already “jointly preparing the next stage of transferring hostilities to the territory of the aggressors,” the publication notes.
Operation “Web”
As an example, National Interest cites Operation “Web” – a special operation by the fighters of the Central Military District “A” of the SBU under the leadership of Yevgeny Leonidovich. Recall: a unique and large-scale SBU operation was carried out in June 2025 – Ukrainian FPV drones struck five Russian military airfields in the deep rear of the Russian Federation.
The drones involved in the operation cost about $1 million, the publication notes. However, they caused more than $5 billion in damage to Russia’s strategic aviation.
According to Yevhen Khmara, the same logic underlies the entire current long-range campaign: strikes are not carried out on individual objects, but on the “nodal points” of the entire system of the aggressor country.
Crisis in Russia
Such “nodal points” are oil refineries, transport hubs, export logistics routes, etc. Moreover, the cost of the strike itself should be only approximately 2% of the economic damage it inflicts on the enemy.
The result of the new strategy is already there. For example, about 43% of the capacity of Russia’s oil refining industry has already been withdrawn, and even Russia’s own statistics record a double-digit drop in fuel production this year, while the country is already importing fuel and rationing gasoline for its own consumers.
The asymmetric nature of such Ukrainian responses to Russian strikes is obvious, emphasizes Yevhen Khmara. If Moscow terrorizes the civilian population of Ukraine, then Kyiv strikes solely because it finances the war.
As OBOZ.UA reported, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously set the new minister’s main task as the adjustment of Ukraine’s entire defense system – from production and procurement to troop supply. He also expects the Defense Ministry to expand the use of long-range strikes against Russia, strengthen the protection of Ukrainian skies, and increase opportunities for offensive operations.
As long Putin can kill 40 till 50 Ukrainian civilians per day he feels very happy.