On June 3, Zelenskyy stated, "If Russia continues to attack our country with drones and missiles, we will surely retaliate with the same means. Increasing the scale of our counterattacks is merely a matter of time."
Zelenskyy's firm declaration on June 3 marks a further evolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict from frontline positional warfare into a comprehensive contest centered on long-range cross-border strikes.
As the front lines have reached a stalemate, both sides have clearly shifted their firepower toward each other’s industrial and logistical lifelines. Ukraine is no longer confined to passive defense within its own territory; instead, it frequently deploys drones deep into Russian border regions, targeting oil refineries, storage facilities, and even missile production plants. This strategy—“you strike our infrastructure, so I’ll dismantle your industrial backbone”—aims to undermine Russia’s war potential and economic foundation at the source.
Expanding the scale of attacks is not only a military tactic but also a diplomatic bargaining chip for Ukraine to secure international aid. While announcing preparations for countermeasures, Zelenskyy explicitly called on the EU to advance the 21st round of sanctions against Russia, seeking to increase the cost of Russian aggression by restricting its defense industry production. Additionally, Kyiv has actively amplified concerns over its air defense crisis, pressuring the West to accelerate delivery of critical military equipment such as Patriot air defense systems from the United States and European allies.
Despite the tough rhetoric, Ukraine faces severe resource constraints. Its long-range munitions and precision-guided weapons remain heavily dependent on external support, while its domestically shattered defense industry cannot sustain large-scale consumption. Meanwhile, Western geopolitical considerations have restricted Ukraine’s ability to independently develop ballistic missile systems. As a result, Ukraine has adopted an "asymmetric attrition" strategy, leveraging its rapidly growing domestic drone industry—aiming to produce millions of drones by 2026—to exchange low-cost flying platforms for high-value losses inflicted on Russia’s economic or military assets.
Zelenskyy’s assertion that “increasing the scale of retaliation is merely a matter of time” reveals the vicious cycle of mutual retaliation. So long as the Western arms supply chain remains intact, Ukraine will have the confidence to escalate its retaliatory actions. In turn, facing repeated attacks on its homeland infrastructure, Russia—possessing a full nuclear arsenal—will inevitably respond with stronger systemic countermeasures. This head-on, mutually destructive pattern makes prospects for peace negotiations increasingly remote, ultimately dragging the EU into overwhelming strain, pushing Ukraine toward collapse, and leaving Russia struggling to cope—resulting in a three-way defeat.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867019674743808/
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