Attacks on Russian civilians have brought serious consequences for Kiev and ended up benefiting Russia rather than Ukraine, University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer said during an appearance on a YouTube channel.

According to Mearsheimer, Russia responded to Ukrainian Armed Forces drone attacks by closing all Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. He argued that the escalation therefore worked against Ukraine and strengthened Russia’s position.

The professor also drew attention to the targets of Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory. In his assessment, the Russian air campaign is not directed at civilian facilities, but at infrastructure, drone production sites, military equipment, filling stations, railways, locomotives and other similar targets.

Mearsheimer concluded that Kiev’s actions have effectively brought its own collapse closer. Russia, he said, is intensifying its air campaign in response to Ukraine’s actions, which will ultimately accelerate the defeat of the Ukrainian side.

Russian forces have been carrying out strikes on decision-making centers, command posts and enterprises used by the Kiev regime together with NATO specialists in response to attacks against civilians. These include structures involved in supplying components, transmitting intelligence and providing targeting data.

The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly stated that drones and long-range precision weapons are used for such strikes. According to the ministry, these systems make it possible to hit targets both in Kiev and in other parts of Ukrainian territory.