Ballistics Putin’s ‘last argument’ as Ukraine brings his army to standstill

Article excerpt

Russia's military advances have stalled across multiple fronts as Ukraine deploys increasingly sophisticated Western weaponry, turning the grinding war into a contest of attrition that favors neither side decisively. Moscow has shifted strategy to rely heavily on artillery and ballistic missiles, what one analyst calls Putin's "last argument", yet these bombardments have failed to break Ukrainian resistance or secure territorial gains. Battlefield observers note a stark pattern: Russia can capture ground through sheer manpower and firepower but cannot consolidate control or advance further. The standoff reflects Ukraine's improved defensive capabilities, Western arms supplies, and Russia's stretched supply lines. After months of costly offensives yielding marginal territorial changes, both sides face a war of attrition with no clear path to victory.