By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia has failed to meet another deadline set by Vladimir Putin for the capture of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. This assessment was delivered following a meeting with key Ukrainian defense and security leaders. During the meeting, Kyrylo Budanov provided updates on Russia’s military preparations and timelines, while Oleh Ivashchenko discussed the political and economic situation within Russia. Zelenskyy further stated that key areas of Ukraine’s defense for the coming weeks were identified, and plans for winter defensive measures would be expanded.
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Zelenskyy: Russia has missed yet another deadline to capture Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. Honestly, it’s pretty staggering, isn’t it? After all this time, after so much blood and treasure spent, the Russian military seems unable to achieve its stated objectives. It’s hard not to wonder what Putin’s end game even is at this point.
The constant push for these specific locations, Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, raises some interesting questions. Pokrovsk, in particular, doesn’t seem to hold any overwhelming strategic importance for either side, at least not in the traditional sense. It’s become a symbolic struggle, a bloody test of wills where Russia is forced to pay a heavy price for every inch gained, much like the battles for Bakhmut and Andriivka. One has to question whether the pursuit of these areas is truly worth the cost. Any pre-set deadline feels like an insult, a way for leaders to project an image of strength while overseeing a protracted struggle.
A “three-day military operation” seems almost laughable now. It’s a rhetorical trick to make a leader look tough, but it highlights the incompetence. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder what the guy is smoking. It reminds me of the classic case of leaders chasing legacies. Putin might feel like he can’t back down now. Russia’s economy is in wartime mode, which is holding it afloat. If the war ends, sanctions and economic damage would hit hard.
There’s also the very real possibility that ending the war could mean losing power for Putin. It’s possible that the Russian people and the oligarchs are getting fed up. Ending the war might trigger them to get rid of Putin. The fear of that very consequence likely fuels Putin’s resolve to keep the conflict going. It’s a terrible situation, and the progress has been incredibly slow – maybe 1% of territory captured per year. It’s a complete mess, a terrible situation.
Russia has painted itself into a corner. It’s not about these specific towns; it’s where the front line is. Russia is in it for the long haul. Remember, just a year ago, Western news outlets were calling Kupiansk and Pokrovsk incredibly strategic. It makes you wonder what’s changed. The conversation has shifted, the importance of the mining industry in Ukraine seems to have been forgotten. It’s a brutal game of attrition, with Russia trying to grind down Ukraine.
Whoever captures Pokrovsk first will get a morale boost, but for the losers, it’s just more hard work and time wasted. Yet, is this a huge morale boost? Think about the Russian troops dying en masse. Thousands of casualties. That’s demoralizing.
The Ukrainians are using the urban conditions to their advantage. Russia is advancing but also retreating to open fields in another area. It’s a desperate situation, and the Ukrainians are doing what they can to make life difficult for the Russians. “Winning slowly is losing,” is the Russian strategy. Russia is facing a demographic crisis, and this war will only make it worse.
The reality is that Russia set its own deadline at the beginning of this operation: 1360 days ago. The scale of protest has been very low, and Russia fears the possibility, which means it will continue. I can imagine that those with the money are unhappy with the giant money pit. Capturing Pokrovsk gets them closer to Kyiv. The frontline changed. If they captured Pokrovsk a year ago, they’d have taken adjacent areas without a fight.
It’s also worth considering the morale on the Ukrainian side. Reports of desertions and the need to forcibly conscript soldiers paint a bleak picture. Ukraine’s economy is running on life support. There’s no willingness to volunteer, and young men are rushing to leave the country.
This is a terrible situation for both sides. The question is how long can both sides sustain this. It’s bad for Russia, and the situation in Ukraine is worse. They are living on donations and forced conscription. This war might mark the end of Russia as we know it, and with hundreds of thousands of injured veterans, the consequences will be long-lasting.