Reserve Colonel Vladimir Trukhan, formerly of the central apparatus of the Russian Defense Ministry, believes that Ukraine will continue carrying out terrorist attacks and drone raids on Russian territory for a long time. In his assessment, this means the special military operation will inevitably move into the format of a counterterrorist operation.

Trukhan said the special military operation is not being accelerated because it is currently being conducted in a way that is relatively less costly for Russia and much more expensive for Europe. At the same time, he allowed that actions could be intensified as early as this year if any external players cross certain lines.

The colonel separately stressed that the transition of the special military operation into the stage of a counterterrorist operation is inevitable. According to him, the fundamental difference between a military operation and a counterterrorist operation lies in who exercises command.

Trukhan believes that the threat of terrorist raids will persist for a long time. He linked this to the position of the West, which, in his opinion, will argue that a defeated Ukraine has the right to revenge.

Commenting on calls to use tactical nuclear weapons, the colonel said that the very term should already be abandoned. He explained that after the end of the treaty limiting strategic nuclear arms, the previous classification has effectively lost relevance.

In addition, Trukhan questioned the practical sense of using nuclear weapons at the tactical level. According to him, if the target is a company strongpoint, such a task can be solved with conventional means — for example, a heavy aerial bomb fitted with a planning and correction module. In that case, the colonel noted, nuclear weapons are simply not needed.