Following the recent intense Russian attack on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin may find temporary satisfaction as the aftermath unfolds. However, the impact of the assault, which involved nearly 700 missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian civilians, resulting in 13 deaths and over 100 injuries, is far from enduring.
This violent act, lacking strategic purpose, was a response to Kyiv’s successful actions against Russian military assets, particularly focusing on undermining the Kremlin’s resources. It was also a message aimed at asserting dominance to the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, suggesting Russia’s perceived advancement in the conflict and its intentions in territorial negotiations.
Despite the recent assault, Ukraine’s forces have been steadily gaining ground against a larger but poorly trained Russian military since the holiday season. Kyiv has also been actively disrupting the Kremlin’s capacity to execute further attacks.
While the recent onslaught, including multiple cruise missiles, struck predetermined targets, Kyiv continued to undermine Putin’s financial backing for the costly war. Although the Kremlin’s latest military action incurred substantial costs, it had minimal impact on Ukraine’s resilience.
In a series of strategic strikes, Ukraine targeted a military aircraft repair facility in Taganrog and an oil refinery in Tuapse, both vital parts of Russia’s military infrastructure. These operations have significantly hampered Russia’s ability to sustain its war efforts and will pose a challenge for the Kremlin during peace negotiations.
President Zelensky of Ukraine has claimed that Ukrainian forces are incapacitating as many as 35,000 Russian soldiers each month through casualties, indicating an unsustainable situation for Russia. The country’s economy is deteriorating, fueling speculations of potential internal challenges to Putin’s leadership.
Although Russia’s significant military actions garner attention for their destructiveness, they do not translate into decisive victories. Conversely, Ukraine’s strategic strikes on Russia’s economic assets, such as oil fields, are undermining the financial backbone of the conflict.
Recent developments also highlight France’s interception of a Russian sanctions-evading tanker in the Atlantic, with assistance from the UK. The timeline for peace negotiations in Ukraine is ticking, and Putin’s fleeting satisfaction over the recent events will likely fade soon.
Chris Hughes is the Daily Mirror’s award-winning Defence and Security Editor. Chris won UK Press Awards Specialist Journalist of the year in 2013. As an experienced war correspondent he has reported from frontlines in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Korea, Pakistan and Ukraine. As well as commenting on the military and geopolitics he also specialises in covering terrorism and the intelligence world. He has reported on terror attacks globally including 9-11 in the US and throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.
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