**Russia’s War in Ukraine: Putin’s Continued Aggression**
Despite Western intelligence assessments suggesting that Vladimir Putin might be scaling back his military ambitions, Russia continues to wage a high-intensity war in Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has assessed that Putin remains committed to his long-term goals of seizing all of Ukraine and undermining NATO.
**High-Casualty Offensives**
Russian forces have maintained their offensive operations at a significant cost, with 99 casualties per square kilometer captured in the first four months of 2025. This is a steep price for territorial gains, which amount to only 1,627 square kilometers. The high casualty rates have led UK intelligence to forecast that 2025 may be Russia’s deadliest war year yet.
**Tactical Innovations**
Russia has increased its offensive intensity in several key directions, including Lyman, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka. The Russian military is rapidly adapting its tactics, integrating motorcycles into their operations and relying on poorly trained recruits to offset personnel losses. This approach has contributed to slowing Russian advances as they struggle against well-defended Ukrainian positions around larger towns.
**Preparing for a Protracted Conflict**
The Kremlin is implementing measures to increase Russia’s force generation capabilities and boost drone production. These efforts, combined with ongoing military restructuring, suggest that Russia is preparing not just for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine but potentially for a future confrontation with NATO. Putin’s recent invocation of “Novorossiya” on April 21 signals continued commitment to maximalist territorial claims.
**No Imminent Peace**
US officials have expressed skepticism about imminent peace, with Vice President JD Vance stating that the war in Ukraine will not end “any time soon.” ISW concludes that Putin continues leveraging battlefield pressure to extract concessions from Ukraine and Western partners in any potential negotiations.
The continued aggression from Russia has significant implications for regional security and the global community. As the conflict drags on, it is essential to understand the true intentions of Putin’s government and the scope of their military ambitions.
**Sources:**
* Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
* European Union
* US Government
Note: This article is a summary of the original text from euromaidanpress.com. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the author or the publication.
