“Civilists are being killed – women, children, elderly people, World War II veterans,” said Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an exclusive interview with de.euronews.com. Russia’s intensifying airstrikes on Ukraine are deliberately designed to wear down and terrify the civilian population rather than achieve purely military objectives, Ukrainian officials report.
Inside Moscow’s Terror Campaign
The ongoing barrage of long-range strikes targets populated areas across Ukraine, pushing communities into prolonged states of fear. Budanov characterized Moscow’s tactics in the interview with de.euronews.com as “classical terrorism,” pointing out that the destruction directly impacts the most vulnerable citizens. When asked whether the Kremlin believes these persistent bombardments will exhaust the Ukrainian populace and force political concessions from Kyiv, Budanov answered without hesitation: “Yes, that’s what they believe.”
Despite Moscow deploying faster jet-engine drones, shifting flight routes, and executing complex combined attacks, Budanov pushed back against claims that Russian forces are adapting faster than their Ukrainian counterparts, stating that Ukraine’s primary focus remains the protection of civilian lives through rapid innovation.
Scaling Domestic Interceptors Before Winter
To counter fast incoming jet-engine drones, Ukraine is rapidly scaling a new generation of domestic interceptor systems. Budanov confirmed to de.euronews.com that these technologies have moved past pure testing phases and are already deployed experimentally in active combat zones. While technical improvements and mass production lines still require urgent scaling, Budanov expressed full confidence that domestic manufacturing capacity will reach necessary thresholds ahead of the upcoming winter months. Having personally inspected the production facilities and technological cycles, he maintains that the nation’s industry will deliver the required volume on time.
Forging European Defense Partnerships
These newly developed counter-drone systems could soon form the bedrock of deeper defense manufacturing agreements with European allies. Several nations have already signed cooperation frameworks with Kyiv under the European drone initiative, which grants participating countries the right to negotiate for specific defense products. However, Budanov emphasized that Ukraine’s domestic requirements take strict precedence.
European collaboration may eventually take the shape of joint ventures, co-owned foreign production plants staffed by Ukrainian engineers, or shared supply chains, provided that Ukraine remains the primary buyer and critical security technologies remain protected within the country.
The Risk of Exclusion for European Security
Beyond industrial partnerships, European nations are attempting to map out a stable long-term security architecture, though Budanov noted that a comprehensive framework does not yet exist. When pressed on whether a future European security system could successfully function without the active participation of the United States, Budanov offered a stark assessment to de.euronews.com.
“I think those who are drafting this doctrine must consider completely different options,” Budanov said. “But it seems to me that’s a bad option. A very bad one, very dangerous for Europe.”
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