Some heroes fade in the shadows. Only a few flourish when the spotlight stops shining on them. Ukraine belongs to the second group. Within two months of the outbreak of war with Iran turned the tide in the fight for survival against the Russian invaders — even though it remains in the background.
The supposedly second most powerful army in the world has yet to be defeated. But for the first time in years, it looks like that Ukraine puts its oppressors in a truly embarrassing situation. This is due not only to Kiev's new war strategy, but also to new information about the state of Vladimir Putin's forces, which shocks even staunch Russian patriots.
Empty pockets of Russians, groundbreaking inventions of Ukrainians
In Putin's Russian empire, not only observers of the conflict are now trembling, but also oil and gas installations that are key to the state. Only in March, Ukraine carried out over 7,300 successful missile and drone attacks on targets in Russia. This is almost 1,500 more than the number of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
No wonder that – as Aleksandra Prokopenko, an expert on Russia, notes – he appeared in Moscow fear of organization “Victory Day” parades May 9 according to the current scenario. Prokopenko writes on the X platform that the parade will take place without military vehicles and will last only an hour. This is a humiliation for the war-minded Putin.
The article continues below the video
Moreover, Ukrainian long-range attacks make it increasingly difficult for Russia to sell oil and finance the war. The Russian state budget recorded only the first quarter of this year deficit of 4.6 trillion rubles (approx. PLN 222 billion) – according to official Russian data! This is a disaster for Moscow.
There are also new inventions from Ukrainian war workshops, which gradually reach the front. This year, President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to send to the battle line 50 thousand new unmanned land vehicles (UGV) — from transport machines to autonomous fire systems. This year alone, Ukraine has already invested $330 million. (approx. PLN 1.1 billion) in their development.
Recently, the Third Assault Brigade captured a Russian position using only UGVs and drones. The robots circled the position. A drone with a loudspeaker called on the surrounded Russians to surrender. A transport machine took them away from the battlefield. All this without endangering a single Ukrainian.
– Russia – says former CIA chief David Petraeus, referring to Ukraine's robotic war – no longer has an advantage in this conflict.
Soldiers sent to death by Putin
The goal of robotization on the front is to save human lives. Ukraine, like Russia, is struggling with recruitment problems. Almost 200 thousand deserters left its ranks. It is estimated that 2 million men are hiding from draft boards. However, thanks to the increasing use of robots, Ukraine will soon need approximately one third fewer people on the front lines.
The Russians also have their jobs. But they don't care about their people. According to data from the Ukrainian side, since the beginning of the war, i.e. for four years, Over 1.3 million Russian soldiers were killed or wounded. On Monday alone, Ukrainians killed or wounded 1,180 Russians.
Intercepted telephone conversations between Russian soldiers and their families show that Putin's officers often leave the wounded without medical assistance in the trenches. They are to “hold their ground” even if they are seriously wounded. And due to the lack of soldiers, Putin sends even highly trained armored personnel as infantry to the front, often to almost certain death.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is recording a record number of calls to its “I want to live” hotline. Kyiv launched it, to allow exhausted Russian soldiers to surrender easily. Approximately 90 Russian servicemen use it every week.
To hide the difficult situation on the front, Moscow has recently significantly restricted access to the popular Telegram platform. It was replaced by the state-owned MAX application, a censorship instrument based on the best Soviet models.
Even Putin's former friend now prefers to cooperate with Kiev
Also in personal relationships Putin is gradually losing allies. While receiving a visit from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in Moscow, he sends his Defense Minister Andrei Belousov to Pyongyang for the opening of a new military museum. However, Iran and North Korea are not the powers that Moscow dreams of.
Ukraine is gaining popularity among various partners — although not among its former main ally, the United States. Concludes new arms agreements with many countries. Zelensky recently signed it defense agreements with Saudi ArabiaPoland, Norway and Germany. Even Putin's former friend, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, now wants to produce weapons together with Kiev. This is a blow to Putin.
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, and Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, during an exhibition of joint German-Ukrainian projects. Berlin, April 14, 2026Michael Kappeler / DPA / PAP
However, it must be admitted that not everything is going according to Ukraine's wishes. Heavy fighting is ongoing in Donbas. In the south, where Russians have recently suffered losses, the number of Russian attacks in the past week increased by 60 percent. Civilians and children are killed every day under Russian missile fire. However, the time when some people wrote off Kyiv is a thing of the past.
Just before the start of the main fighting season in Eastern Europe, there are solid reasons to believe that Putin will eventually break down and will have to accept Kiev's conditions for the initial room.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
