Desperate for any minor win, Putin escalates terror tactics
While peace talks lead nowhere, we’ve shifted our attention back to the front lines—where developments on the ground have a real impact in deterring Russian aggression, unlike the endless cycle of negotiations.
As of this writing, reported Russian losses in Ukraine have exceeded 1 million killed and wounded, including approximately 250,000 either killed or permanently incapacitated. Military equipment losses include nearly 10,900 tanks, around 22,900 armored infantry vehicles and approximately 29,600 artillery systems.
Despite enormous losses and mounting economic problems, the Kremlin continues to invest heavily in creating the illusion that Russia can advance indefinitely—regardless of the cost. This strategy likely aims to pressure Ukraine’s allies into scaling back their support. However, even a cursory look beyond the headlines reveals that this “advance” is both unsustainable and largely symbolic. As Forbes recently pointed out, at the current pace of territorial gains and associated losses, it would take Russia more than 200 years to conquer all of Ukraine—at the cost of over 100 million Russian lives.
The Russian leadership clearly understands the situation, which is why its main strategy now focuses on demoralizing Ukraine’s allies. The Kremlin pushes a narrative that supporting Ukraine is futile—that Ukraine is destined to lose, and that continued foreign aid is a waste of resources. At the same time, Russia intensifies terror campaigns against Ukrainian civilians through constant drone and missile attacks, aiming to erode public morale and, ultimately, to trigger political destabilization.
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