Sunday, February 22, 2026-Four years after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to grapple with the stark consequences of what many analysts call a catastrophic strategic miscalculation.
Far from achieving swift victory, Moscow’s military remains mired in an entrenched conflict that has drained resources, exposed weaknesses in planning and logistics, and hardened global opposition. What was expected to be a short campaign has instead become a grinding war of attrition, with Russia still unable to secure decisive territorial gains and facing persistent resistance that reshapes battlefield dynamics daily.
Economically, the toll has been profound. Sustained Western sanctions targeting key sectors — from energy export revenues to access to critical technologies — have significantly constrained Russia’s fiscal flexibility.
Energy markets have shifted as Europe and other partners diversify away from Russian oil and gas, cutting into a cornerstone of the country’s budget. Combined with the massive costs of protracted military mobilization and reconstruction in contested regions, these pressures are compounding internal strains on public services and investment, even as Moscow maintains tight control over economic data and messaging.
Politically and socially, the war’s lingering impact reverberates well beyond the battlefield. Demographic challenges from casualties and emigration of skilled workers, coupled with increasing international isolation, have reshaped Russia’s global posture.
Diplomatic relations with many Western and neutral countries remain deeply strained, and efforts to build alternative partnerships are costly and complex. As Kyiv continues receiving sustained support from NATO members and allies, Russia faces a future where the costs — human, economic, and geopolitical — are still mounting, underscoring just how enduring the consequences of its initial misjudgment have become.
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