Russia intensifies its air campaign in response to the slowdown of its ground offensive in Ukraine

As Russian advances on the ground show signs of slowing, Moscow appears to be relying more heavily on airstrikes to maintain pressure on Ukraine. According to an analysis reported by Reuters, Russian territorial gains have slowed considerably in recent weeks, prompting the Kremlin to intensify its missile and drone attacks against major Ukrainian cities.

Bombings carried out across Ukraine on Tuesday left at least 23 people dead and more than 130 wounded. Several civilian infrastructures were hit, particularly in Kyiv, where residential buildings and medical facilities suffered significant damage.

According to several researchers and military analysts cited by Reuters, Russia is now encountering greater difficulties in advancing on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces have strengthened their resistance in several sectors of the front and are simultaneously increasing their attacks against strategic oil and industrial infrastructure located on Russian territory.

While Russian troops continue to advance slowly in some areas of the Donetsk region, their progress is significantly slower than at the same time last year. Setbacks on other parts of the front are also limiting Moscow's gains.

This situation could have diplomatic consequences. Several experts believe that a sustained slowdown in Russian military advances risks weakening the Kremlin's position in any future peace negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, continues to assert that the conflict can only end when Russia controls the entire Donbas region, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk areas.

However, despite more than four years of war, Ukrainian forces still control a significant portion of the Donetsk territory. In this context, airstrikes increasingly appear to be a way for Moscow to compensate for the lack of a decisive breakthrough on the ground and to exert constant pressure on the Ukrainian authorities and the civilian population.

The evolution of this strategy could play a major role in the coming months, both militarily and in diplomatic discussions surrounding a possible settlement of the conflict.