Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov (File)

Ukraine War, Day 916: Russia Kills 15 in Largest Missile and Drone Barrage of Invasion

I joined India’s WION on Tuesday to analyze the reasons for Russia’s missile and drone barrage across Ukraine, the largest in Vladimir Putin’s 30-month invasion, over the past two days.

While noting the attempt to destroy energy infrastructure, I explain what is distinctive about the Kremlin’s motives this time. Vladimir Putin and his military are unsettled by Ukraine’s three-week incursion into the Kursk region in western Russia, with the consequent change in narrative from “Moscow is winning” to “Moscow is unable to defend its territory”.