The Kremlin is increasingly losing control of the war – The Economist
A turning point is gradually emerging in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the Russian leadership is facing growing difficulties both on the front lines and at home. According to analysts, Ukraine is intensifying the pressure through drone strikes and the depletion of enemy resources.
This is discussed in a recent analysis by The Economist.
The publication notes that despite one of the harshest winters, marked by massive strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, Ukraine is gradually turning the tide in its favor.
According to the journalists’ assessment, the Russian army’s spring offensive did not yield the expected results, and Russian troops began losing ground for the first time since 2024. The Economist also highlights serious recruitment problems within the Russian army.
According to the publication, the losses of the occupying forces already exceed the number of new contract soldiers, which is why Russian authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of a new mobilization of another 300,000 people.
Ukraine Strengthens Its Advantage in the Drone
War Separately, the authors of the article highlight the changing situation in the drone war. Ukraine, the publication claims, has surpassed Russia in the scale of long-range drone strikes, and a significant portion of Russian territory has come within range of Ukrainian UAVs.
As a result, the Russian army is forced to move its depots and military infrastructure further and further away from the front lines. The Economist also drew attention to this year’s May 9 parade in Moscow. “For the first time in two decades, tanks and other military equipment did not roll down Red Square,” the publication notes.
The Kremlin is facing internal exhaustion
Journalists attribute this to the Russian authorities’ fears of possible attacks by Ukrainian drones. According to The Economist, mobile internet was shut down in Moscow and St. Petersburg on the eve of the parade, and air defense systems were even redeployed from remote regions of Russia.
The publication also writes that Vladimir Putin increasingly appears “besieged” due to both problems on the front lines and Russia’s internal exhaustion.
Read also: In the Oleksandrivka direction, the occupiers are trying to secretly build up forces in the ruins
Russian troops have failed in their plans to capture major cities — ISW.
Total combat losses of Russian troops since the full-scale invasion, as of May 10, 2026, have reached approximately 1,341,110 personnel.
