Western officials are increasingly reporting that Kyiv is becoming more active in placing obstacles in the way of Russia's advancement through Ukrainian territory. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), UNN reports.
Details
Analysts indicate that the Kremlin likely remains committed to its original war goals, despite the Russian elite's recognition that the war is "not going very well."
The intensification of Ukraine's long- and medium-range strike campaigns has also led to rising economic, military, and human costs for the Russian forces' efforts to sustain the war effort, resulting in disproportionately limited gains—at least 59,000 seriously wounded and over 800 captured prisoners of war,
They cite unnamed high-ranking Kremlin officials who believe that the war in Ukraine has reached a "deadlock" without a clear resolution.
"But Russian President Vladimir Putin still wants to end the war on his own terms, including the full seizure of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of 2026," the authors conclude.
Recall
ISW believes that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is relying on nuclear saber-rattling to demonstrate military strength following Russia's apparent failure to ensure full security for the May 9 Victory Day parade.