Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Jun 19
Putin Keeps Ukraine War on Course in Year 5 as 500,000 Russian Deaths Mount
Updated
Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Jun 19
Putin Keeps Ukraine War on Course in Year 5 as 500,000 Russian Deaths Mount
3 articles · Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Jun 19
Summary
Nearly five years into the invasion, Putin is sticking with the war rather than shifting course, with analysts saying he remains unconvinced by arguments to freeze the front or declare victory.
Millions of jobs, regional budgets and military pay now depend on wartime spending, making peace risk immediate shocks — mass unemployment, a veteran crisis and disruption across defense industries.
Donbas remains central to that calculation: Putin has tied his legitimacy to controlling all claimed Ukrainian regions, and the Kremlin still demands a Ukrainian pullback from the remaining Kyiv-held part for talks.
British intelligence estimated in May that almost 500,000 Russian troops have been killed, while Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia and elite frustration are adding pressure to a status quo analysts call increasingly unsustainable.
With its army faltering, is Russia's grassroots war effort a sign of national resilience or a final act of desperation?
Trapped between economic collapse and a veteran crime wave, can Putin escape the war he created without destroying Russia?
1,577 Days On: Ukraine’s Battlefield Momentum, Russia’s Mounting Losses, and the Shifting International Order
Overview
As of mid-2026, the war in Ukraine has lasted longer than World War I, with Ukraine gaining strategic momentum while Russia faces growing stagnation. Despite Russia’s increased aerial attacks on cities and cultural sites, its forces have failed to make significant battlefield gains, and the front lines remain fluid. Ukraine’s innovative use of domestically produced drones has enabled it to strike deep behind enemy lines, disrupt Russian logistics, and retake territory. Meanwhile, Russia struggles with high casualties, declining recruitment, and mounting economic and internal pressures, highlighting a shift in the conflict’s dynamics and the challenges ahead for both sides.