WSJ: Ukraine's Defense And Drone Strikes Thwarted Moscow's Plan
- 8.11.2026, 12:59
Putin's army is suffering setbacks on the battlefield.
Over the course of ten months of the offensive, the Russian army has captured a total of only about 119 square kilometers in Ukraine—compared to approximately 4,850 square kilometers in 2025. Moreover, over the past two months, Russian forces have lost more territory than they have captured. Ukrainian defenses and drone strikes have thwarted Moscow’s plan to encircle key cities in the Donetsk region, according to The Wall Street Journal (translation — Charter97.org website).
One of the main reasons for the Kremlin’s failures has been Ukraine’s campaign of medium-range drone strikes against Russian rear areas. The drones are destroying warehouses, vehicles, and supply routes, hindering the movement of reinforcements to the front lines.
“I attribute this to Ukraine’s campaign of medium-range drone strikes—this is a crucial capability that Ukraine did not have in 2025,” said George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to him, “Russian logistics have been disrupted—they have not yet been able to restore them.”
A particularly serious blow to Moscow’s plans was the Ukrainian Operation “Vivaldi” in the Liman area. After preparing the battlefield with strikes on supply lines and the positions of Russian drone operators, Ukrainian units launched an offensive. By mid-October, they had recaptured 277 square kilometers of territory and 16 settlements. This thwarted an attempt to encircle Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Konstantinovka from the north and south.
Now, the Russian command has focused its main efforts on the Dobropillya sector. According to Ukrainian military estimates, Russian forces there outnumber Ukrainian troops six to one. Moscow has also deployed elite “Rubicon” drone units.
However, even the possible capture of individual parts of the city will not change the bottom line: the initial plan for the Russian offensive has failed. The Kremlin now faces a new, slow, and costly advance through Ukrainian defenses.