Vladimir Putin's brutal strategy to exhaust Ukrainian forces through a relentless war of attrition is dramatically backfiring, according to leading defence analysts. The Kremlin's campaign, designed to drain Ukraine's resources and Western resolve, is instead culminating in catastrophic losses for Russian troops with minimal territorial gains.
The critical shift follows a significant increase in Western military supplies, particularly ammunition, finally reaching Ukrainian front-line units. This influx has empowered Ukrainian defenders to inflict devastating damage on advancing Russian formations.
Catastrophic Cost for Russia
Recent intelligence assessments paint a grim picture for the Kremlin. Russian forces are reportedly suffering staggering casualties—losing up to a thousand soldiers daily—for advances often measured in mere metres. This haemorrhaging of personnel and equipment is rapidly becoming unsustainable, even for Russia's vast military.
"Putin bet that Western support would crumble and that Ukraine would eventually collapse under sheer weight of numbers," a senior Whitehall source stated. "That bet has failed. The flow of aid has stabilised, and Ukrainian resilience, combined with Russian incompetence, has turned the tide into a bloody quagmire for the invaders."
The Western Lifeline
The delivery of vital artillery shells, missiles, and air defence systems from NATO allies has been a game-changer. After months of ammunition shortages, Ukrainian gunners can now effectively counter Russian bombardments and blunt armoured assaults.
This support has not only bolstered defence but has also enabled targeted Ukrainian counter-strikes on key Russian command centres and logistics hubs deep behind enemy lines, further disrupting offensive operations.
A Failed Kremlin Strategy
Military experts conclude that Moscow's current approach is fundamentally flawed. The attempt to wage a protracted, grinding conflict has underestimated both the tenacity of the Ukrainian military and the renewed commitment from its Western partners.
Instead of breaking Ukrainian morale, the relentless attacks have only solidified the nation's resolve to resist. The enormous cost to Russia—in both human lives and military hardware—has yielded negligible strategic benefits, calling into question the very logic of the Kremlin's continued offensive.
The consensus among defence circles is clear: Putin's war of attrition is not grinding Ukraine down; it is grinding his own army into dust.
