Kremlin boss Putin comes under pressure after military setbacks

Brussels, Berlin, Riga The Russian army has responded to the collapse of its front lines in north-eastern Ukraine with targeted rocket attacks on power plants and other civilian targets. Whole regions are without light, without heating, without water. The Ukrainians’ willingness to fight seems to have been strengthened as a result.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address to Russia: “Do you still think you can intimidate us, break us, force us to make concessions?” Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not frightening for Ukrainians.

In fact, it is Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin who is coming under increasing pressure from the Russian army’s military setbacks. The strongest units of his armed forces have been wiped out in Ukraine, and tens of thousands of soldiers have died. And the criticism in their own country is growing.