President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on June 24, as cited in his official address, that he has ordered the Ukrainian intelligence services and the Defense Forces to carry out preemptive strikes against Russian facilities involved in sustaining the war effort. The decision marks a shift toward disrupting the logistics and infrastructure that enable Russia to escalate its aggression.
According to intelligence reports, the Kremlin is prioritizing the protection of high-value sites such as Moscow, Valdai, and the Kerch Bridge. Large quantities of S-400, S-500, and Pantsir air defense systems have been redeployed to these areas. This concentration of military assets leaves vast swaths of Russia vulnerable. The President noted that the defense of these specific locations has stripped other Russian regions of their security, creating a significant imbalance in the Kremlin’s domestic security architecture.
Beyond military maneuvers, Russia is grappling with an acute economic crisis. Fuel shortages are currently affecting over 60 Russian regions, leading to sharp spikes in gasoline and diesel prices. These domestic hardships, combined with the ongoing military drain, have reportedly forced the Russian government to consider delaying or canceling upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for September. There is clear evidence of uncertainty within the Kremlin regarding the country’s stability.
Zelenskyy emphasized that these internal problems are the direct consequence of the Russian leadership’s refusal to end the war and engage in genuine peace negotiations. Instead of addressing the needs of the Russian population, the state apparatus is obsessed with maintaining a thin veneer of control around its leadership.
The President further reiterated that Ukraine has a comprehensive plan for operations regarding occupied territories, specifically Crimea. He noted that the ongoing efforts are already yielding concrete results, proving that the Kremlin’s reliance on deception and military posturing is failing to halt the Ukrainian counter-offensive. As Russia continues to isolate itself internationally and struggle domestically, the strategic initiative appears to be shifting toward degrading the very systems that facilitate Russia’s ability to maintain its occupation. The Ukrainian leadership maintains that no matter the scale of Russia’s mobilization, the path toward a just conclusion of the conflict remains focused on neutralizing the military power that sustains the regime.