Over the past week, Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine have not yielded significant gains, with setbacks occurring in Crimea and Georgia. Despite attempts to project power by sending a flotilla to Cuba and conducting missile drills, Russia’s incursion in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region appeared to be stalled. Ukrainian forces have successfully defended key settlements, forcing Russian forces to operate at a distance. Additionally, changes in allied policy allowing Ukraine to use weapons inside Russia have complicated Russian logistics.
Ukraine has continued to strike military and energy targets in Russia using domestically produced weapons, leading to significant damage. Ukrainian drones have targeted refineries and military bases in Russia, with the most notable hit being on a Russian Su-57 fighter aircraft. Russia, in turn, has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to significant losses in power generation capacity.
Both countries are facing challenges in their energy sectors, with Russia dealing with reduced refining capacity and a legal battle over gas deliveries. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in military and economic warfare.