On April 15, 2026, during a press conference following the meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format in Berlin, British Defense Minister John Healey presented data that clearly showed the true state of the Russian army. He stated directly that for four consecutive months, Russia suffered greater losses on the front than it managed to recruit new soldiers at the same time.
“Putin wanted the world to believe that his forces had built unstoppable momentum on the battlefield, but in fact, Russia has been losing more troops than it has recruited for four straight months,” Healey said. These words are not just a political assessment. They mean that the Russian war machine is slowly losing its ability to maintain its current level of forces.
Defense Minister John Healey
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WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images
Recruitment conducted both on a contract basis and under various types of pressure cannot keep up with the pace of losses. It is worth remembering that “losses” include not only those killed, but also seriously wounded who are out of combat for a long time, deserters and soldiers withdrawn due to extreme exhaustion. When there are more losses than new arrivals, the army begins to shrink and its combat capacity systematically decreases.
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Healey also noted that, contrary to the Kremlin's propaganda about the “invincible march”, Ukrainian forces have been carrying out effective counterattacks on various sections of the front in recent weeks. This shows that despite Russia's huge numerical and equipment advantage in some areas, Ukraine is still able to deal serious blows.
Great Britain supplies over 120,000 drones
At the same time, Great Britain has committed to delivering at least 120,000 in 2026. drones. This is the largest single delivery of drones in the history of British support for Ukraine.
The package includes long-range strike drones capable of attacking targets deep behind the Russian forces, reconnaissance drones used to target the enemy and correct artillery fire, as well as logistics and maritime drones intended for operations in the Black Sea. Most of these machines will be manufactured by British companies, including: Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics. The announced package is part of wider support worth approximately £3 billion.
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Drones have become one of the key elements of this war. Cheap, mass-produced drones allow Ukraine to precisely destroy Russian equipment and positions at a fraction of the cost of traditional weapons. Thanks to them, Ukraine can, to some extent, compensate for the opponent's huge numerical advantage.
Ceasefire for Easter – a humanitarian gesture or a tactical pause?
A few days earlier, on April 9, 2026, Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour unilateral ceasefire on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. The break was to apply from 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, until midnight on Sunday, April 12. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces will respect this suspension, provided that Russia also respects it.
Vladimir Putin in the church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious
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kremlin.ru / Kremlin.ru
The Kremlin presented the decision as a “humanitarian gesture” and a proof of good will. Russian state media heavily emphasized alleged concern for civilian life and religious tradition. However, in the context of the ongoing war, such short suspensions are primarily practical for Putin.
For the Russian army, every break in intense operations is a valuable moment of respite. In a situation where for several months losses have exceeded the possibilities of replenishment, even several dozen hours without heavy fighting allow for the rotation of tired units, evacuation of the wounded, delivery of supplies and quick replenishment of the most urgent personnel shortages. In this way, the Kremlin is slowing down the process of bleeding out of power, which has become particularly visible in recent months.
History shows that similar “holiday truces” rarely led to a real reduction in tensions. After the set time had passed, the fighting usually returned with a vengeance. The ceasefire therefore becomes a tactical tool for Putin – a way to buy time before a possible decision on general mobilization, which could cause serious social tensions in Russia.
The world is “bored” by the war, but it still goes on
Despite the dramatic events on the front and huge losses on both sides, the war in Ukraine is slowly starting to fade into the background in Western public opinion. After more than three years of conflict, many people feel tired of this topic. The media and society are increasingly shifting attention to other crises, especially those in the Middle East, which seem more dynamic and current.
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Putin is well aware of this. The distraction of the world reduces political pressure on Western governments and makes it easier for the Kremlin to maintain a narrative of a “protracted war” in which “both sides are tired.”
However, it must be clearly remembered that the war is still in full scale. Ukrainian soldiers and civilians fight every day for every meter of their land and for their lives. Russian drones, missiles and artillery do not take breaks due to “media fatigue”. People are losing their homes, loved ones are dying, and entire regions remain in a state of constant threat.
Ukraine is fighting not only for its territory. It also defends the principles on which the security of all Europe is based – the right to self-determination, the inviolability of borders and the rejection of force as a means of resolving international disputes. If we allow war to “get boring,” we run the risk that the aggressor will achieve his goal by simply waiting it out.
