Ukraine must act asymmetrically against Russia, new acting defense minister says

Key facts

• Ukraine's new acting defense minister, Yevhenii Khmara, said the country must use asymmetric tactics against Russia.
• Khmara emphasized careful resource management and strategic strikes on Russian infrastructure.
• He noted Ukraine's recent strikes have targeted Russian oil industry installations.
• Khmara expressed hope for a strategic partnership with the United States.
• He stated Ukraine needs to produce Patriot interceptor missiles.

Ukraine cannot engage Russia in a direct military "punch for punch" confrontation and must instead utilize asymmetric tactics and carefully manage its resources, according to Yevhenii Khmara, Ukraine's newly appointed acting defense minister. In an interview with U.S. blogger Laura Loomer, Khmara outlined his vision for enhancing Ukraine's military effectiveness through strategic strikes on Russian infrastructure, particularly its oil industry, aiming to impose costs that outweigh the expense of the attacks.

Khmara, who previously headed the SBU security service, took over the defense ministry role last week after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov. He stressed the critical importance of resource management and logistics in battlefield planning. Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian oil facilities have reportedly led to fuel shortages in Russian regions, while also slowing Russian advances along the front line.

The acting minister also expressed his hope for a robust strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States, suggesting Kyiv could offer valuable experience in modern warfare. Khmara highlighted the necessity for Ukraine to be able to produce Patriot interceptor missiles to counter Russian aerial attacks. This aligns with President Donald Trump's earlier statement about granting Ukraine a license for Patriot manufacturing. Trump and Zelenskiy recently discussed reviving peace talks and Ukraine's potential production of these interceptors during Zelenskiy's visit to Washington.