Nikita Shenderovsky11:46, 21.09.25

Serious problems for the Russian economy may begin at the end of this year, believes Roman Svitan.

Ukraine needs to continue striking at the Russian oil refining industry, as this is the only way to win the war. 

This opinion was expressed on the air of ” Radio NV ” by military expert, pilot instructor, colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in reserve Roman Svitan.

“The Russian army can be defeated, for example, in Crimea or the land isthmus and while the Russian Federation is alive. But we will not liberate Donbas without the collapse of the Russian Federation. There are another 7,000 kilometers of Russian rear behind Donbas. And it is possible to squeeze the Russian army out of Donbas only if the Russian Federation collapses. The Russian Federation can be collapsed the way the Soviet Union collapsed at one time – with economic mechanisms. That is, by putting pressure on the Russian economy,” said Svitan.

He added that a significant part of the Russian economy is based on the sale of oil and gas. And that is why Ukraine suspended such strikes in March of this year for nothing. 

“If we stop the flow of these petrodollars, the republics will go into free swimming. And the Russian army, since any army comes from the state, if the state collapses, only after that we will be able to liberate our territory. Work has been going on at Russian refineries since August. If no one stops them, then by the end of the year this will lead to serious problems for the Russian economy. We will have to turn on the printing press, they will work for another year.

And the end of 2027, the beginning of 2028 will be the collapse of the Russian economy and then the beginning of the collapse of the Russian empire,” Svitan added.

(c)UNIAN 2025