Russia Preparing for 'City War' as Source Warns of More Frequent Strikes
According to a military source cited by The New Yorker, Russia is bracing for a new phase of war characterized by more frequent long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, reminiscent of the 1980s Iran-Iraq conflict.
Russia's war against Ukraine may enter a new phase where long-range attacks on cities and critical infrastructure will play a larger role, writes the US magazine The New Yorker, citing a source in Russian military circles.
According to the source, the situation is beginning to resemble the so-called "city war" during the Iran-Iraq conflict in the 1980s, when both sides regularly shelled each other's cities with missiles after setbacks at the front, causing massive destruction and civilian casualties.
"They are used to it, but we are facing it for the first time," the source told the magazine regarding Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian territory.
The New Yorker notes that the war is now effectively being fought on two fronts. While Russia's ground offensive in Donbas has slowed, both sides are increasingly using drones and long-range weapons in the airspace.
In recent months, Ukraine has significantly increased drone production and is increasingly attacking Russian ammunition depots, logistics centers, air defense assets, and oil infrastructure. At the same time, Russia is finding it more difficult to provide effective air defense across its vast territory.
Meanwhile, experts emphasize that Ukraine's air defense capabilities are not unlimited either. The country still lacks a sufficiently strong multi-layered defense system to fully intercept all Russian ballistic missiles and latest-generation strike drones.
