Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska on Tuesday called the conflict in Ukraine a “colossal mistake” where Russia launched a major offensive in February, remarks of rare virulence regarding a representative of the Russian elite.

• Read also: War in Ukraine: Zelensky calls for Russia to be designated as a “state sponsor of terrorism”

• Read also: Russian invasion: the Kremlin will stop its offensive when Ukraine capitulates

• Read also: War in Ukraine: the Russian army denies having hit a crowded shopping center in Kremenchuk

“Is it in Russia's interest to destroy Ukraine? Of course not, that would be a colossal mistake,” he said at a rare press conference in Moscow.