Putin finds himself in a "zugzwang" in the war against Ukraine - The Washington Post

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has found himself in a "zugzwang" situation in the war against Ukraine, where every subsequent move only worsens his position. This is stated in a column by The Washington Post, reports UNN.

Details

The author of the piece notes that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many perceived Ukraine as a "tulip against a bulldozer," but the Russian military machine turned out to be significantly weaker than expected.

The article emphasizes that this year's Russian preparations for the May 9 parade became a symbol of the changing situation. Due to the threat of Ukrainian drones, Moscow reduced the duration of the event to 45 minutes, and the amount of military equipment and personnel was smaller than usual.

In a brilliant taunt, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would "allow" the parade to take place by not attacking Red Square that day

The Washington Post points out that Putin called the war something that is "nearing its end," even though his so-called "special military operation" has been going on for 51 months, despite the Kremlin initially expecting to complete it in a few weeks.

According to the publication's estimates, in 2026 Russia captured only about 0.04% of Ukrainian territory, and in April it even suffered a net loss of territory.

At the same time, the losses of the Russian army remain enormous. The Economist estimates that over more than four years of war, Russia has lost about 3% of its pre-war male population of conscription age, either killed or wounded.

The Wall Street Journal also cites the example of a Russian serviceman—a former drug addict who was sent to the front after imprisonment despite severe injuries and the partial loss of an arm. According to the occupier himself, many Russian soldiers consider the war a "campaign to cleanse the lower social strata of the population."

The authors of the material emphasize that the war increasingly resembles World War I due to the massive use of drones and the positional nature of the fighting. Small groups of Russian military personnel advance under constant artillery and UAV strikes, trying to hold individual tree lines or buildings.

At the same time, Ukrainian drones have created a new threat for Russia far from the front. The publication notes that about 70% of the Russian population is within range of Ukrainian drones.

The fear of being eliminated by a drone forces Putin to spend a lot of time in underground bunkers

The material also emphasizes that the war started by the Kremlin has actually led to the strengthening of NATO, the bolstering of European unity, and the deepening of Russia's own economic problems.

Alexandra Prokopenko, an analyst at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, called Russia's current state a "negative equilibrium."

Russia is holding itself together while simultaneously destroying its own future capacity

Putin spoke about the "near end of the conflict"29.05.26, 19:37 • 6216 views