Russia is changing how it fights in Ukraine. Instead of just fighting on the front lines, Russia is now attacking Ukraine’s economy directly. They want to make it as hard as possible for Ukraine to make money and keep its businesses running.

Big news outlets like The New York Times and the Financial Times report that Russia is using air strikes to destroy factories, warehouses, and logistics hubs. By hitting these places, they hope to stop the country from functioning normally.

This is already having a big impact on the ground. Because it isn't safe to store goods in many parts of the country, companies are moving their warehouses to the west of Ukraine. This has caused the cost of renting storage space in that area to triple. It is much more expensive to run a business now.

Some companies are taking huge hits. For example, the cargo company Berger Cargo reported that it lost 65 million hryvnias—that is Ukraine’s currency—because of attacks on its buildings. The large retail chain Epicentr also said it had to cut 7,000 jobs because of the increased air strikes.

These attacks are part of a 'total war' strategy. Russia is trying to weaken Ukraine by breaking its ability to pay for the war and keep its people employed. For now, Ukrainian businesses are struggling to stay open while trying to move away from the danger zones.

Source: The New York Times