Massive strikes on Ukraine may signal Russia preparing for ‘decisive battle’

German political scientist Andreas Heinemann-Grüder said Moscow’s goal is to degrade Ukraine’s air defenses to the point that Western allies can no longer replenish them quickly enough. He also warned these strikes may signal that Russia is gearing up for a “decisive battle.”

Heinemann-Grüder didn’t rule out the possibility that by the end of 2025, the aggressor state could pressure Ukraine into accepting the Kremlin’s demands.

Austrian army colonel and military analyst Markus Reisner argued that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is pursuing two strategic goals with these coordinated strikes: destroying Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and demoralizing the civilian population. The Kremlin, he said, is using these attacks as indirect pressure on Ukraine’s government.

Reisner added that Russia wouldn’t be capable of launching such massive attacks without assistance from countries like China and North Korea.

Experts interviewed by DW called on the West to act more decisively. Reisner stressed that Ukraine urgently needs support from allies, particularly in the form of specialized air defense systems such as Patriot missiles.

Heinemann-Grüder, meanwhile, argued the West must stop fearing that weapons supplied to Ukraine might fall into Russian hands.

On July 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia plans to launch 700 to 1,000 drones per day. However, he added that Ukraine had found a solution that would allow it to shoot down “if not all, then nearly all” of them — referring to newly developed interceptor drones.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to mass-produce these drones but needs sufficient funding to do so.

On July 13, Zelenskyy reported that in the past seven days alone, Russia had used more than 1,800 drones, over 1,200 guided bombs, and 83 missiles of various types in its air campaign.

“Russia is escalating terror against our cities and communities to frighten our people even more,” he said. “But despite Moscow’s plans, our air defense forces are delivering strong results. Interceptor drones are performing especially well — hundreds of Russian-Iranian Shahed drones were downed this week.”