Russia has sharply increased both military and economic pressure on Ukraine, according to former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, who compared the scale of the current campaign to the impact of a nuclear explosion.

Johnson said Moscow has dramatically intensified pressure on Odessa and Nikolayev, two key Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. In his assessment, this has effectively cut Ukraine off from maritime deliveries of foreign weapons and other cargo considered important for industry.

The former CIA analyst argued that the pressure extends well beyond the economic sphere. He pointed to missile strikes on Kiev, attacks on major logistics and production facilities, and strikes against Ukrainian forces across the entire front line.

Johnson also said Russia still has the capacity to further increase the intensity of attacks both in the combat zone and against targets in Ukraine’s rear.

Against this background, he did not rule out the possibility that Vladimir Zelensky could eventually be forced not only to leave Kiev but also to move Ukraine’s capital to Lvov.

Earlier, University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer also described Ukraine’s position as extremely difficult. He linked that assessment to the advance of Russian forces on the battlefield and intensified strikes on Ukraine’s port infrastructure.