Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are preparing for a horrific Christmas period, bracing themselves for a bitter winter of intensified attacks from a desperate Russian military command. Despite staggering losses, Vladimir Putin's war machine, funded by a massive war chest, shows no sign of relenting.
A War of Attrition Funded by Billions
The Kremlin is currently bankrolling its invasion with a staggering £290 million every single day, a financial onslaught aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's defences. This comes as Russian forces suffer catastrophic casualties, with an estimated 1,000 troops killed or injured daily and total losses exceeding one million since the invasion began.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has issued a stark warning to Western allies, urging immediate action to avoid a deadly future choice between "money today or blood tomorrow." His plea underscores the high stakes as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to appeal for increased weapons and aid, with the nation facing potential bankruptcy if Western support falters.
Frontline Realities: Propaganda vs. Brutal Truth
Despite Moscow's claims of battlefield advances, British military experts assert that Russian progress is minimal and comes at a horrific cost. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former head of the UK's CBRN Regiment, dismissed Kremlin propaganda as "way off the mark."
"The Russians are taking horrific casualties," de Bretton-Gordon stated. "In Pokrovsk in particular, the achievements of Ukraine’s special forces have been devastating... Russian forces in that area are actually going backwards." Around Pokrovsk alone, more than 1,700 Russian troops are killed or wounded each day, yet Putin has committed over 100,000 personnel to that sector.
The Russian military is reportedly coercing tens of thousands more into battle, offering men a grim choice: sign a lucrative military contract and likely die, or face a winter of unemployment and poverty at home. Conscripts are often declared missing to avoid paying compensation to their families.
Peace Talks and Putin's Unwavering Ambition
While tentative peace talks are scheduled in the coming days between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin's aide Kirill Dmitriev, analysts view them as largely theatrical. A report from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) concludes that Putin's ambition to subjugate Ukraine remains undimmed by Russia's enormous losses.
The report warns that the Kremlin is likely seeking a peace agreement without security guarantees solely to create conditions for renewing aggression later. It stresses that Ukraine's defence of its Donetsk "fortress belt"—including the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka—is crucial. Nothing short of Kyiv's complete capitulation will satisfy Moscow.
President Zelensky has warned against trusting Putin's signals, stating, "I have always said that he does not want to end the war." He emphasised that stopping the conflict depends on sustained pressure from partners through sanctions and diplomacy.
As Ukraine endures this grim December and January, its forces continue to hold the line with grit and determination. The nation, having shifted its Orthodox Christmas celebrations to December 25, now faces a season of violence instead of peace, with the world watching to see if its resolve—repeatedly underestimated by the Kremlin—will be enough to survive another winter of war.
