Russia’s Rogue Commander Is Playing With Fire
AtlanticJUL 2023
Though the Russian army is unlikely to break any time soon, the decline in its morale is becoming clearer by the day, as Ukraine has captured dozens of Russian prisoners of war. By deploying poorly trained soldiers to the meat grinder front line, and threatening to shoot anyone who retreats, Moscow is leaving its troops no choice but to surrender.
Ukraine's much-advertised counteroffensive has been a complete fiasco, translating into heavy losses for Kyiv while Moscow holds firm and projects long-term victory without the need to resort to nuclear weapons. Putin looks as comfortable as ever ahead of next Spring's presidential elections, especially amid the failure of the West's isolation strategy.