-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
Russia fears regime change, internal destabilization, and state collapse—vulnerabilities that Ukraine is actively leveraging in its strategy, Deputy Chief of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Vadym Skibitskyi said at the Kyiv Stratcom Forum 2025 on April 25.
“The first fear is destabilization of the regime and a change in leadership,” Skibitskyi said. “The second is internal destabilization, given that Russia is a vast, multinational state. The third is the potential split or collapse of the Russian Federation — and the fear of losing it in its current form.”
Skibitskyi stressed that Ukraine is factoring these weaknesses into its broader strategy.
“We are fully aware of this and are taking it into account,” he said, underscoring that Russia’s internal vulnerabilities play a critical role in the course of the war.
In Russia, dissent is increasingly suppressed through a combination of harsh legislation, censorship, and political repression. Authorities routinely target activists, independent journalists, and opposition figures with charges ranging from "extremism" to "discrediting the military." Many have been imprisoned, forced into exile, or silenced through intimidation. Crackdowns have intensified since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as the Kremlin seeks to eliminate any public criticism or organized resistance.
Previously, Ukrainian border guards successfully conducted a rescue operation in the area of active hostilities along the Sumy axis, forcing Russian forces to abandon three captured Ukrainian servicemen through the use of precision drone strikes, reported The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on April 28.
