Military expert Vladislav Shurygin said that if the targets of a possible massive Ukrainian air strike on Russia include facilities belonging to the Russian strategic system — such as submarine bases — then Russia should not hesitate over how to respond.

According to Shurygin, in that case the Russian Armed Forces would need to begin erasing from the map large areas of Ukraine where those responsible for authorizing such strikes are located. He stressed that Russia must act decisively — not to suffer hits but to inflict them.

He warned that if Russia does not raise the stakes, it will continue along the path being forced upon it. Shurygin compared the situation to «a bull being led by a ring through its nose.» While Russia maintains the initiative on the front, he said, politically the country trails behind the illusion that Trump supposedly wants to end the war and that Moscow must play along. Shurygin believes this attitude is visible at all levels and that the constant attempt not to offend America or Trump could end badly for Russia.

In his view, Russia should preempt possible attacks by making firm and explicit statements clearly describing what response will follow any strike on the Russian nuclear infrastructure. He added that Moscow must declare it will impose no restrictions on itself afterward and must prepare seriously for a massive combined missile-and-drone strike.

Shurygin noted that Ukraine cannot sustain such operations indefinitely — at best, for two or three waves of what it has managed to assemble, roughly two or three days. During that time, he said, Russia’s air-defense forces must be fully mobilized.