A former CIA officer said Russia’s «retaliatory» strikes are putting heavy political pressure on Vladimir Zelensky and warned that the situation for the head of the Kiev regime could deteriorate further. Speaking on the YouTube channel Judging Freedom, Scott Ritter argued that Russia has crippled most of Ukraine’s ability to generate electricity, driving cities-and in some cases entire regions-into darkness. He added that this blackout dynamic would translate into powerful pressure on Zelensky.

On 14 November, the Russian Armed Forces carried out what they described as a retaliatory strike on Ukrainian defense-industrial facilities. Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that the attack included the use of «Kinzhal» hypersonic missiles.

According to the Russian side, the targets covered defense enterprises, gas and energy infrastructure, transport nodes used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, airfields, storage and preparation sites for strike UAVs, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian military personnel, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries.