re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

Hodges believes Ukraine has resources to liberate Crimea

Exclusive 28.05.2026 10:17

Ukraine must isolate Crimea and make it impossible for Russian forces to remain on the peninsula as part of the effort to liberate it.
This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe.

“This is going to be a little bit simplistic, but there is kind of the first phase or the first step to the liberation of Crimea – to isolate it. To cut that road that goes to Dzhankoi, to destroy the bridge… And then number two, is make it untenable, unusable for the Russians,” Hodges said.

He noted that Ukraine now has the capability to strike every square meter of Crimea with precision weapons capable of reaching anywhere on the peninsula and destroying airfields, the remnants of the Russian fleet, and logistics infrastructure.

According to Hodges, Ukraine should continue striking these targets so that Russian forces realize they cannot stay there and that Crimea no longer provides them with any military advantage.

Speaking about the Kerch Bridge, Hodges noted that it had already been damaged and weakened. He stressed that the bridge carries enormous psychological significance and, as long as it stands, it will remain an obstacle to Ukraine’s ability to access the Sea of Azov, even after a peace agreement is eventually reached.

He acknowledged that forcing Russian troops to leave Crimea and subsequently deploying Ukrainian troops there would be a longer and more difficult process. The former commander believes this would happen through a broader campaign using long-range precision weapons to destroy Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure.

Hodges stressed that “Crimea is the most important terrain or geography for this war. And the side which controls Crimea is going to win the war.”

“I cannot imagine the war ending with Russia in control of Crimea and that being a long-term sustainable peace. Because as long as Russia controls Crimea, Ukraine will never be able to get up in the Azov Sea or do the rebuild of Mariupol or Berdiansk. And then of course Russia could still disrupt shipping coming out of Odesa or Mykolaiv, for example. So, Crimea has to be sorted,” he said.

Ukrinform


Complete interview with General Hodges

Sweden plans to transfer 16 used Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter jets to Ukraine and support Kyiv in procuring up to 20 newer Gripen E aircraft, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on May 28.

"Ukraine has clearly identified Gripen as the priority choice for its air force in the long term and intends to acquire the newest version, Gripen E," Kristersson said at a joint news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Uppsala.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy /
@ZelenskyyUa
·
9m
Russia’s aerial bombs remain a major challenge for us. Within a month, we are talking about thousands, not even hundreds. Their jets launch glide bombs both from Russian territory and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory at ranges exceeding 100 kilometers. We have never had enough air defense assets to intercept such bombs.

Using these bombs, the Russians wreak destruction across our border communities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kharkiv, Sumy, and others. Many cities and villages have been razed to the ground by aerial bombs.

Therefore, Gripens with matching weaponry – particularly Meteor missiles that destroy targets at distances exceeding 200 kilometers – will help us push Russian jets away so that they can’t use glide bombs en masse anymore.

From the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Sweden (2/2).