A Ukrainian military expert has urged Kyiv to strike at Russian oil infrastructure rather than waste expensive Western-supplied missiles on the Crimean Bridge, arguing that attacks on key economic targets will hit the Kremlin where it hurts most — its war-funding oil and gas revenue.
Major General Serhiy Krivonos, a reserve officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told Ukraine’s “Fabrika Novostey” programme that destroying the Crimean Bridge illegally built by Russia may have symbolic value but little long-term strategic effect.
“In fact, it is better to burn one oil refinery, which will bring a much greater effect,” Krivonos said. “Let us burn the Novorossiysk oil terminal, which brings Russia huge amounts of money by trading stolen Ukrainian grain, liquefied gas and oil via the Black Sea, rather than play with this bridge.”
He argued that the cost of launching a Taurus cruise missile — reportedly estimated at around €1 million or approximately £850,000 per unit — should be considered carefully. Using it on a bridge that Russia can repair quickly is poor use of resources, the general added.
Krivonos stressed that practical, economically minded strikes must take precedence over “populist slogans and jet ski raids.”
“War is economics,” he said. “There is no need to rely on theatrics. We need to deliver blows that paralyse the Russian economy.”
He noted that war planning must account for cost and result. Destroying an oil cracking unit — a complex and costly part of refinery operations — would deliver longer-lasting disruption to Russia’s oil output and revenue than any missile hit on the bridge.
“Everyone thinks that a missile is some kind of miracle weapon,” he said. “But it doesn’t have enough explosive to collapse the whole metal structure of that bridge. If you demolish two or three spans, they will just rebuild it in a month. Everyone will applaud. Then what?”
Krivonos pointed out that in war, it is not only firepower but also economic impact that defines victory. “Populism is unnecessary in war,” he said. “Practicality is needed. In war, money must also be counted.”
The remarks come amid ongoing debate in Germany over whether to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Friedrich Merz, widely expected to become the next Chancellor of Germany, previously pledged to supply the advanced cruise missiles. However, Matthias Miersch, Secretary General of the SPD party allied with Merz, recently suggested Merz might reverse his promise upon learning classified details about the system.
Miersch said the German government is reluctant to provoke Russia or be seen as a direct party to the conflict, which is why the missiles have not yet been delivered.
The stalling of such a critical weapons system has sparked frustration in Kyiv, where military officials believe precision strikes on critical Russian infrastructure could turn the tide of war in Ukraine’s favour.
