To Force Peace, Ukraine Must Target Russia's Oil and Military, Says Expert.

Mikhail Gonchar on Russian Society's Indifference

According to Espreso.tv: According to Mikhail Gonchar, president of the Center for Global Studies 'Strategy XXI', Russian society shows little reaction to human casualties, pointing to a deep-seated social apathy. He argues that Ukraine should keep striking Russian military and energy infrastructure to pressure the Kremlin into peace talks. Gonchar believes this approach is more effective and is already yielding results.

Russia's Staggering Losses

Reports indicate Russia has suffered 1,300,000 casualties, including roughly 500,000 deaths. Despite these staggering figures, Gonchar says the Russian public remains largely unmoved. He insists Ukraine must persist with its operations to truly impact Russian consciousness, because, in his words,

“that is what grabs the Russian mind”

A case in point is Ukraine's drone strike on an oil terminal in Saint Petersburg on June 3. This attack highlights Ukraine's active military campaign to degrade Russia's war-making capacity. Gonchar views such strikes as pivotal for achieving peace, as they can reshape how Russian society perceives the conflict.

In essence, the expert says Ukraine's strategy aims not only to damage military assets but also to force a reassessment of current Kremlin policies.

These remarks underscore the complex psychological landscape within Russia, where the scale of losses fails to provoke widespread outcry. At the same time, Ukrainian military actions—like the oil terminal attack—demonstrate Kyiv's readiness to intensify its fight for national interests. This strategy of focused military strikes could have long-term effects on Russia's political dynamics, pushing the Kremlin to rethink its war objectives and tactics.