Ukraine’s Budanov says air strikes alone cannot win the war

What happened

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, reported on Sept. 10 that long-range drone and missile strikes are coercive measures that cannot achieve victory independently. Speaking at a news conference in Riga, Budanov stressed that such strikes are supportive tools rather than decisive means of winning the war.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Budanov illustrated his point by referencing the US experience in Iran, noting that deep strikes do not eliminate all opponents and instead function as influence tools. He noted that the ongoing conflict features Russia increasing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and long-range drone strikes against Ukraine, yet these bombardments have not forced Kyiv to surrender.

In response, Budanov said Ukraine is developing and testing high-speed interceptor drones designed to counter Russian jet-powered drones, indicating a tactical evolution in drone warfare. He described this development as a natural technological progression and a competitive back-and-forth between offensive and defensive unmanned aerial systems.

Known from the source

• Kyrylo Budanov is head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office.
• On Sept. 10, Budanov said deep strikes with drones and missiles cannot deliver victory alone.
• Budanov spoke at a news conference in Riga.
• Russia is conducting an expanding campaign of ballistic, cruise missile, and long-range drone strikes against Ukraine.
• Ukraine is developing and testing high-speed interceptor drones to counter Russian jet-powered drones.

What remains unclear

Budanov’s statements underline that while missile and drone strikes form an important layer of the conflict, Kyiv relies on a combination of military means to prosecute the war. This emphasis on multi-domain operations is critical in understanding Ukraine’s strategic positioning as it faces intensified Russian attacks by air.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify no subsequent statements from Budanov that might alter or update his assessment on air strikes. Confirm technical details and status of Ukraine’s interceptor drone program from additional sources. Ensure all quotes are accurately transcribed and contextualized as of Sept. 10.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: New Voice Ukraine. Open the source.