Russian President Vladimir Putin has been making headlines once again as he continues his brutal invasion of Ukraine. However, it seems that the consequences of his actions may not be what he had hoped for. Despite his desire to cement his own legacy and make “Russia great again”, Putin’s performance on the battlefield is pushing his country in the opposite direction.
In a recent meeting on the development of domestic integrated electronics at the Kremlin in Moscow, Putin spoke confidently and with determination. However, his actions on the battlefield tell a different story. According to analysis from a US-based think tank, Russian soldiers are moving at a shockingly slow rate in their offensives, with an average of only 15 to 70 meters gained per day. This is slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the international community.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has found that despite claims of momentum in Ukraine, Russia is paying an extraordinary price for minimal gains and is increasingly becoming a declining power. In fact, the think tank estimates that Russian forces have suffered nearly 1.2 million casualties since the war began, including killed, wounded, and missing soldiers. This is more losses than any major power in any war since World War 2, by a significant margin.
Furthermore, in their attempts to seize land in Ukraine, Russian forces have only been able to hold onto a small fraction of the country, currently holding only a fifth of Ukraine’s sovereign land. Even then, their gains are minimal, with only 0.6% of Ukraine’s land under Russian control in 2024 – an area smaller than the US state of Delaware.
The war has become a war of attrition for Putin, with his troops suffering severe casualties while making little progress on the ground. In contrast, the Ukrainian side, though much smaller in size, has been able to defend itself effectively, with a ratio of roughly 2.5:1 or 2:1 in terms of casualties. This is a testament to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s defence-in-depth strategy, as well as the problems faced by Russian forces.
Experts at CSIS have identified a range of issues that may be contributing to Russia’s high casualty rate, including their failure to effectively conduct combined arms and joint warfare, poor tactics and training, corruption, low morale, and Ukraine’s effective defence strategy. These issues have resulted in a significant toll on Russia’s economy, with manufacturing declining and slow growth of only 0.6% in 2025. Furthermore, the country lacks globally competitive technology firms to drive long-term productivity.
Despite these challenges, Putin remains determined to continue the war effort. However, his persistence comes at a great cost to his own country. The strained war economy and mounting casualties are taking a toll on Russia’s economy and could have long-lasting consequences.
In the midst of all this, US President Donald Trump has been attempting to broker peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Despite his determination to end the war by any means possible, including potentially rewarding the aggressor, Putin remains steadfast in his maximalist goals. In the first round of trilateral peace talks with the US and Ukraine, Putin insisted on controlling the whole of Ukraine’s Donbas region, a clear red line for Kyiv.
Despite this, Trump officials have remained optimistic about the discussions, stating that they were productive and that more talks are expected in the following weeks. However, it remains to be seen whether any progress can be made with Putin’s insistence on controlling the entire region.
In conclusion, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine may have initially been aimed at cementing his own legacy and making Russia great again, but it seems that his actions on the battlefield are only pushing his own country in the opposite direction. The war has resulted in high casualties and a strained economy for Russia, while Ukraine has been able to effectively defend itself. As the international community continues to watch and hope for a resolution, it is clear that Putin’s actions are not leading Russia towards greatness, but rather towards decline.
