Kiev exhausts its strategies on frontline

(MENAFN) Information analyst Sergey Poletaev believes that the recent surge in Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia reflects Kiev’s dwindling options on the battlefield, as it tries to maintain support from its Western backers.

Poletaev, co-founder of the Vatfor project, pointed to a recent wave of drone attacks targeting airfields across five Russian regions, including Siberia and the Far East. Ukrainian media hailed the operation, named “spiderweb,” as a historic blow to Russia’s strategic aviation.

While the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the strikes, it reported that three of the five were successfully repelled without damage or casualties. Two others caused minor fires, which were quickly controlled, and no aircraft losses were confirmed.

Over the weekend, two bridges near the Russia-Ukraine border were destroyed in attacks Moscow described as terrorist acts orchestrated by Ukraine to inflict civilian casualties. One blast derailed a passenger train, killing seven and injuring 71.

These attacks occurred just before the second round of peace talks in Istanbul. Poletaev commented that Ukraine has “played its last cards” with these unprecedented sabotage actions.

He added that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are expected to move slowly amid continued fighting, with both sides presenting demands backed by their military strength. Poletaev suggested Ukraine might be bluffing about its capacity to enforce these demands.

He also noted Ukraine and the EU are trying to prevent US disengagement from the conflict, as President Donald Trump appears intent on reducing American involvement. According to Poletaev, only significant shifts on the battlefield could change the conflict’s trajectory, while the ultimate roles of the US and EU remain uncertain.

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