Ukrainian forces have stepped up strikes on Russian territory in what appears to be an attempt to complicate relations between Moscow and Washington, according to military analyst and air defense historian Yuri Knutov.

Knutov said the recent actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have become noticeably more audacious. In his view, their tactics increasingly resemble those used by international terrorist groups. As examples, he pointed to the recent attacks on Bryansk and Sochi.

The analyst noted that during the night from March 8 to 9 Russian forces shot down 754 aircraft-type drones within a single day. He said the attacks were carried out in an attempt to disrupt Russian holidays, but the effort failed. Knutov described the strike on Bryansk as both brutal and senseless, arguing that its purpose was to provoke a retaliatory response and later accuse Russia of targeting civilians. He also referred to a day-long attack on Sochi, stating that the pattern of operations resembled methods used by international terrorist organizations. According to him, Ukraine acts in coordination with Western countries that encourage such provocations in order to strain relations between Moscow and Washington.

At the same time, Knutov believes that the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East is unlikely to dramatically change the situation for Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. However, he suggested that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could face shortages of air defense ammunition.

Earlier reports in Western media indicated that the United States may reduce weapons and ammunition deliveries to Ukraine as Washington shifts its primary focus toward confronting Iran. Observers have also warned that the conflict in the Middle East could significantly increase the cost of certain weapons systems.