Five Areas Where Russia Faces Strategic Defeat, According to an Australian General

Russia's Strategic Setbacks in the War Against Ukraine

According to Главком: Retired Australian Major General Mick Ryan, a military expert, told 24 Channel that Russia is confronting strategic failures in its war against Ukraine across five domains: military, cognitive, moral, industrial, and economic. He provided data on Russian territorial gains and losses in 2025 and 2026, and highlighted economic strains, including fuel sale restrictions in 15 Russian regions.

Ryan noted that Russia is losing not just on the battlefield but also in the military dimension. In 2025, Russian forces captured over 2,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory, but Moscow lost roughly 200 troops for every square mile taken. By 2026, Russia managed to seize only about 17 square miles, at a cost of more than 9,000 casualties per square mile.

“That strategy is simply not sustainable,” Ryan remarked.

Cognitive Warfare and Economic Pressures

Furthermore, the expert stressed the importance of cognitive warfare, which he argued Putin is losing. “The cognitive battle is critical, and Putin is losing it-he's even losing support from the White House. Lately, we haven't seen many positive statements from President Trump regarding Putin,” he added. As a result, the Kremlin is seeing its political backing erode.

Economic woes have also become a serious challenge for Russia. “We are now seeing fuel sale restrictions in 15 different regions of Russia, including Crimea. We're observing a significant slowdown in its economic growth,” Ryan emphasized. The expert noted that by nearly every metric used to measure progress in this war, Russia is either stagnating or moving backward.

Mick Ryan's statements underscore the complex challenges Russia faces during its war with Ukraine. Territorial losses, heavy human casualties, and economic difficulties suggest that Moscow's strategy may be insufficient to achieve its stated goals. At the same time, growing problems in the cognitive sphere and diminishing political support could indicate shifting sentiments both domestically and internationally, which may have lasting consequences for the conflict's trajectory.

As the situation unfolds, it's essential to understand the broader implications of Russia's struggles not only on the battlefield but also in shaping its narrative. General Ryan elaborates on this aspect, highlighting how Putin is faltering in both military and informational realms. For a deeper insight into the challenges facing the Kremlin and the shifting dynamics of the conflict, read more about how Putin is losing control over his narrative.