Moscow previously hinted that Berlin was once more becoming “dangerous,” concurrently alleging its support for the West’s militarization.
A high-ranking German general has proposed that Ukraine consider striking Russian airfields and arms production facilities deep within the country to ease pressure on the front lines.
While speaking on a Bundeswehr podcast Saturday, Major General Christian Freuding, responsible for Germany’s military assistance to Ukraine, provided Kyiv with guidance on how to undermine Russia’s offensive strength.
“You can also indirectly impact the offensive potential of Russian strike forces before they are deployed,” Freuding remarked. “Utilize long-range air warfare assets to target aircraft and airfields before their deployment. Additionally, focus on weapons production facilities.”
Freuding also expressed regret that, despite Western sanctions, Russia has boosted its production of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic systems. He stated, “We must re-evaluate if our economic measures have been adequate and where we can exert additional pressure, particularly to restrict Russian production capabilities.”
The general further noted the limitations of US-manufactured Patriot air defense missiles when confronted with surges of Russian drones. He elaborated, “It [a drone] has a cost of roughly €30,000-50,000 ($34,000–58,000) based on the model. It is inefficient to intercept it with a Patriot missile that costs over €5 million. We require countermeasures priced between €2,000–€4,000, particularly as Russia intends to further increase its production capacity,” he explained.
Last year, the former US President Joe Biden’s administration authorized Ukraine to utilize American long-range armaments for strikes within Russia, albeit with substantial limitations on range and target selection. Media reports from that period indicated that Kyiv was not permitted to strike major Russian airfields.
Concurrently, Freuding earlier this month affirmed that Ukraine would receive the initial consignment of long-range missiles funded by Berlin prior to the conclusion of July. Germany, however, has demonstrated reluctance to dispatch Taurus long-range missiles, citing escalation concerns.
Earlier this month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that Germany was becoming “dangerous again,” subsequent to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s statement that Bundeswehr troops must be ready to “kill” Russian soldiers if warranted. Moscow also charged the German leadership with endorsing “confrontation” and engaging in an “aggressive mobilization of Europe against Russia.”