**Russian President Putin Remains Committed to Victory in Ukraine, Says US Intelligence Report**
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for three years now, and despite the devastating losses suffered by Russia, its president, Vladimir Putin, remains committed to achieving victory. According to a recent report from the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Putin’s objectives have not changed since the beginning of the war.
**Putin’s Goals**
The DIA report states that Putin “almost certainly is committed to victory in Ukraine” and that his primary goals remain Ukrainian neutrality and a further partition of the Ukrainian state. This means that Putin wants Ukraine to abandon its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and withdraw its military forces from certain regions, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts.
**War as Existential Struggle**
The report also suggests that Putin views the war in Ukraine as an existential struggle against the West. He believes that the outcome of this conflict will determine Russia’s place in the world, his hold on power, and his historical legacy. This mindset has led Putin to be prepared to use military force for at least another two years.
**Russia’s Military Capabilities**
The report highlights that despite its efforts, Russia lacks the ability to go head-to-head with NATO. Its war in Ukraine has degraded its capabilities to deter, fight, or militarily compete with NATO for at least three years. Since the start of the invasion, Russia has lost more than 10,000 ground combat vehicles, including over 3,000 tanks, as well as nearly 250 aircraft and helicopters, and more than 10 naval vessels.
**Russian Losses**
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces estimates that Russia has lost around 979,830 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion. This staggering number highlights the immense human cost of this conflict.
**Asymmetric Capabilities**
While Russia may not have the military might to take on NATO directly, it remains capable of employing asymmetric capabilities against the United States and allies, including cyber and information campaigns. These tactics aim to undermine Western cohesion and support for Ukraine.
**Destabilization Campaign**
The report also reveals that Russia has been implementing a destabilization campaign against the West, with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine. Pro-Russian agents have been linked to various arson, sabotage, and assassination plots against military and civilian targets in Europe since January 2024.
**Putin’s Strategy**
Despite its losses and slow advances, the Kremlin is prepared to continue its strategy of attrition through at least the end of the year. This means that Putin calculates he can outlast Ukrainian resources and Western support for Ukraine.
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