The attack by the Russian Federation on February 3 cost $324.8 million, which could have improved depressed regions – GUR

The night strike by Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on February 3 cost 324.8 million US dollars. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate. According to Ukrainian intelligence, this amount is comparable to the actual budgets of Russia’s depressed regions — the money could have been spent not on missiles, but on changing the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of people.

This was a massive air attack aimed at civilian energy facilities. The Main Intelligence Directorate emphasizes that such resources could have been invested in the development of territories like the Jewish Autonomous Region or the Kostroma Region, where there is a chronic lack of investment, jobs, and infrastructure programs.

The Cost of Military Demonstration

According to the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ballistic missiles “Iskander” and RM-48U, hypersonic “Zircon” and “Onyx”, cruise missiles Kh-101 and “Iskander-K” were used in the attack. Additionally, strike drones “Geran” and “Harpy”, as well as decoy drones “Gerbera” were employed.

The economic scale of the strike easily translates into social categories. These funds could have fully supported the Jewish Autonomous Region with a population of about 144,000 people or a large city like Kaluga, where more than 320,000 residents live. The amount is also comparable to the semi-annual budget of the Kostroma Region.

In reality, the Kremlin directed these resources towards an attack on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian side, 79.2% of the resources used did not reach their target: air defense forces destroyed 450 aerial targets. The financial effect for Russia is zero. The destructive effect on the region is obvious.

In this context, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency has repeatedly drawn attention to the key paradox of the war: billions are spent on strikes that do not change the strategic situation, while internal Russian regions remain in a state of chronic stagnation for years.

A Separate Line — Chemical Threat

Alongside missile attacks, another, less visible front is intensifying. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that in January 2026 alone, Russian forces used dangerous chemical substances 224 times. This includes gas grenades K-51 and RG-VO.

Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, Ukraine has recorded more than 12,000 cases of such means being used. These episodes rarely become a central topic in the international agenda, but they directly indicate an escalation in the methods of warfare.

The facts voiced by Ukrainian intelligence and the General Staff demonstrate not only the military but also the economic logic of the conflict. Huge sums burn in the sky over Ukraine, bringing Russia neither a strategic breakthrough nor internal development. The war continues — and its cost is measured not only in destruction but also in missed opportunities.