Mykhailo Podolyak’s advice for Zelensky: ‘Destroy every Russian oil refinery’

‘The cost of the conflict for the Kremlin must become much higher than any benefits it could possibly derive from it. … It is the only way to force Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table, or at least halt the active phase of the war.’

In the most secure quadrant of Ukraine – the government headquarters in Kyiv – we meet Mykhailo Podolyak. An advisor to Volodymyr Zelensky since 2020 and a member of Kyiv’s negotiating delegation with Russia and the United States, Podolyak has been one of the most recognizable public figures in the West since the invasion began. He is also among the very few who have never been sidelined by the various cabinet reshuffles that have continually altered the political power structure in Ukraine.

These are very difficult days for Kyiv. There has been heavy shelling and extensive damage. Is it true that you are no longer able to shoot down Russian missiles because you have run out of air defense systems?

We are lacking ammunition, not anti-missile systems. And this is not just happening in Ukraine. None of the major global manufacturers – especially those producing third-generation Patriots – ever expected a modern war to be waged against large urban centers and civilian populations. Lately, at least 10 ballistic missiles are launched in every single attack. To give you a point of comparison, the maximum production capacity of the United States is 120 missiles a year. Japan, which holds a license to produce them domestically, typically manufactures 50. And they are barely produced in Europe anymore. Our solution is simple: give us the ability to produce them ourselves or manufacture them in joint production with our European partners.

On the offensive front, the situation is different. In recent months, Ukraine has managed to strike oil refineries deep inside Russia. What is the long-term objective of these attacks?

To deprive Russia of the resources it needs to continue the war. And to bring the war directly into Russian territory. Up until now, the Russian population has viewed this conflict as something abstract. As long as that remains the case, the Kremlin will always be able to draw on the financial resources,........

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