Budanov states: Ukrainian strikes caused greater damage to Russia’s economy than sanctions
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, made a groundbreaking statement during the Kyiv International Economic Forum on October 16, emphasizing that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries inflicted damage on Russia’s economy that surpasses any losses caused by international sanctions.
According to Budanov, the actions of Ukrainian forces, utilizing domestically produced munitions, have significantly undermined Russia’s profit margins, with far-reaching consequences for its economic stability.
He highlighted that over 99% of the weapons used in these strikes are Ukrainian-made or sourced from Ukrainian resources.
Additionally, he pointed out that the current level of sanctions pressure on Russia remains insufficient to alter its worldview or force a reassessment of its actions.
The intelligence chief noted that Russia still possesses enough resilience to sustain a prolonged war, and its economic hardships have not yet reached a critical point.
However, Budanov emphasized that prolonged warfare is never beneficial for any country or economy, signaling that Russia’s increasing difficulties are, in principle, expected and natural.
He concluded that while the situation is challenging, Ukraine continues to focus on strengthening pressure on the enemy to weaken its capacity for extended conflict.