Ukraine's new defence minister Yevhenii Khmara has said Ukraine cannot match Russia 'punch for punch' while outlining new strategies as Ukraine continues to target Russia's war machine.
A number of industrial facilities in the central Russian city of Ryazan caught fire after a drone attack, regional governor Pavel Malkov said on Telegram on Wednesday.
Six people were seeking medical help following the attack, Malkov said. He did not provide details about the facilities affected in the region, which is home to several large industrial complexes, including an oil refinery and a logistics hub.
The attacks come as Ukraine’s acting defence minister Yevhenii Khmara said the country could not compete with Russia in a direct military confrontation and must instead use its resources carefully through asymmetric tactics.
In his first interview since being appointed to the post, Khmara said Ukraine needs to focus on strategies that allow it to achieve greater effects with fewer resources.
“We can’t go punch for punch. We have to be asymmetric,” Khmara said in an interview with U.S. blogger Laura Loomer in Kyiv.
Khmara, a former head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), said he had a clear understanding of how Ukraine’s forces could improve their effectiveness on the battlefield.
“I have a real picture in my head of what is being used, what can be used against the enemy, and what can be most effective moving forward,” he said.
He stressed that resource management and logistics were among the most important elements of military planning, particularly ensuring that frontline units have the necessary equipment.
Khmara was referring to Ukraine’s recent long-range strikes against Russian infrastructure, including oil facilities.
He said such operations aim to impose costs on Russia that are greater than the resources Ukraine spends carrying them out.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have contributed to fuel shortages in some regions, while Russian forces continue attempts to advance along the approximately 1,200-kilometre frontline.
Khmara also said Ukraine wants its relationship with the United States to develop into a long-term strategic partnership, with Kyiv sharing its experience from modern warfare.
He highlighted the importance of Ukraine being able to produce Patriot air defence interceptor missiles domestically to counter Russian missile attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Washington would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptors.
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the issue during their meeting in Washington on Tuesday, along with efforts to restart peace talks with Russia.
Zelenskyy said he also raised Ukraine’s need for advanced air defence systems and interceptors during talks with Trump and U.S. senators.
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