Analyst Says Russia's Strikes on Ukraine Aim to Pressure Civilians and Show Strength at Home

Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine reflect a broader strategy in which military force, political goals and territorial ambitions are deliberately intertwined, according to Ukraine analyst Peter Zalmayev, speaking to France 24.

Zalmayev, founder and director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, argued that Moscow's strikes on civilian infrastructure are designed to place intense pressure on Ukrainian society while simultaneously demonstrating a forceful response to domestic audiences inside Russia.

He contrasted this approach with Ukraine's own strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which he characterized as targeting assets that directly sustain Moscow's war effort rather than aiming primarily at civilian populations.

The comments were made during an interview segment hosted by France 24's Mark Owen, part of the broadcaster's ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine and its impact on civilians and infrastructure on both sides of the conflict.

Zalmayev's assessment reflects a view held by a number of Ukraine-focused analysts, who argue that Russia's campaign against energy and civilian infrastructure serves both a military and psychological purpose. The report did not include a response from Russian officials to Zalmayev's characterization.