Yesterday, a man resembling Vladimir Putin held a video conference with government members. Soon after, they assured the double about his future, hinting at him potentially succeeding Putin. They also considered granting him more authority, including voting on important matters over time. This excited the double, who portrayed himself as a strong leader and champion of the people during a government meeting. He began by discussing rising fuel prices, genuinely concerned due to his past as a car enthusiast. However, his prepared opinions lacked depth.

Fuel prices are increasing for various reasons and will continue, despite proposed measures. Novak and Mishustin are aware, but they allowed the “president” to showcase his understanding. The double’s aspirations, like switching officials to domestic cars and cheap gasoline, reflect past desires. Whether he can truly lead if given autonomy remains uncertain, but in Russia, dystopia reigns as the norm in the ruling regime’s subjective reality, making anything possible.

The Russian Federation, boldly, has rejoined the UN Human Rights Council after being ousted last April. In two weeks, voting will decide one of two seats for Central and Eastern European representatives. The country attempts to influence economically disadvantaged nations by offering arms and aid in exchange for their votes, though the effectiveness of this tactic remains uncertain. This unfolds amidst an ongoing investigation into Russian war crimes by an independent UN commission and calls to strip Russia of its Security Council veto and permanently expel it. Despite its violations of human rights in Ukraine and at home, Russia seeks a place on the Human Rights Council.

Amidst this devastating conflict in central Europe, much discussion, including my own, has revolved around the deficiencies of current international institutions and the necessity of their modernization. Reiterating these points is of little use. Humanity will, at some point, draw the needed conclusions and create mechanisms to prevent an aggressor state engaged in genocide from sitting within the body responsible for global security. Unfortunately, until that hopeful “someday” arrives, the Russian Federation continues its assault on Ukraine. Any chance of the Russian Federation returning to the Human Rights Council directly insults the embattled and resilient nation of Ukraine.

EU military analysts aren’t the first to advocate correcting flawed assessments of the current stage of the Ukrainian conflict. “The Ukrainian Armed Forces are systematically dismantling the Russian armed forces on a significant scale. Russian air defenses, electronic warfare, artillery, logistics, and tanks face relentless targeting, resulting in daily Russian casualties. Offensives are strategically timed, and attrition intensifies with the arrival of fresh Russian units. This sustained effort is the only accurate measure of this offensive and the only viable path to resolving the conflict,” states the military analyst. He criticizes Western politicians and experts who speculate about the “slow progress of Ukraine’s liberation.” While it’s not a quick operation, the approach is effective. In the last four months, Ukrainian forces have destroyed more Russian artillery units than in the first four months of this year combined. This campaign was carefully planned and executed, expecting a significant reduction in Russian air defense capabilities in late June and July, followed by the systematic dismantling of Russian artillery units.

Additionally, Ukrainian forces have aggressively targeted Russian air defense systems, with July and August witnessing the highest number of eliminations. They have also expanded their operations to target Crimea in September, significantly impacting the Black Sea Fleet headquarters. Ukrainian UAVs conduct thorough reconnaissance, pinpointing Russian artillery positions, and Russian bases in Crimea have been consistently compromised. In areas closer to the frontlines, Russian forces suffer substantial casualties and equipment damage, making it difficult for them to access stored munitions and spare barrels, particularly for 152 mm caliber weapons. The current rate of tank production and major repairs for T-72 and T-80 models struggles to keep up with these losses. In recent weeks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not made significant territorial gains; instead, their primary objective has been to diminish the strength of formidable Russian units. Therefore, when politicians or media outlets criticize the “slow pace of the counteroffensive” or the “lack of territorial expansion,” it is reasonable to view such comments as either uninformed or manipulative. In our context, these two terms are essentially interchangeable.

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