Russia’s 2026 Offensive Campaign Has Failed: Why Putin’s Capabilities Are Running Out

24.10.2026, 20:20 uatv.ua

The Russian army has failed to achieve the strategic goals of its 2026 offensive campaign, despite its numerical advantage and intense combat operations on several front-line sections. At the same time, the Kremlin’s ability to continue a large-scale offensive is gradually narrowing. Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, founder of the charitable foundation “Close the Sky Over Ukraine,” offered this assessment on FREEДОМ TV channel, UATV English reports.

According to the military expert, over 1,700 days of full-scale war, Russia has still not managed to realize its initial plans to seize Ukraine. Moreover, despite Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s attempts to intensify offensive actions, the prospects of the Kremlin achieving its stated goals are becoming increasingly illusory.

“No matter how hard Putin strains himself to realize his inhuman plans to seize Ukraine and destabilize the security situation in Europe, and therefore in the world, everything points to the window of opportunity for Putin to wage combat operations gradually closing,” Romanenko stated.

He emphasized that Russian command failed to secure breakthrough results at the front. In his assessment, Russia’s 2026 offensive campaign did not achieve its defined objectives within the planned timeframe.

“At this point, the Russian Federation’s 2026 offensive campaign has failed, both in terms of its objectives and its timeline. The fighting is, of course, very intense, particularly in the Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka, and Huliaipole directions, around our Kramatorsk-Sloviansk defensive line. But I’ll emphasize again: they haven’t achieved results,” the expert noted.

Romanenko explained that Russian leadership is trying to intensify combat operations to demonstrate at least some achievements and justify the prolonged war to its own population.

At the same time, he noted that the absence of strategic results doesn’t mean Russian attacks are stopping. In certain sections of the front, occupation forces continue advancing, using their advantage in personnel, weaponry, and military equipment.

According to the lieutenant general, Ukraine’s Defense Forces are holding back the enemy through active defense, which involves not only holding positions but also carrying out counterattacks and counterstrikes.

The expert emphasized that, despite the difficult situation at the front, the Russian army isn’t achieving the strategic results the Kremlin is counting on.

“Overall, strategic offensive actions on the Russian side aren’t achieving results. And the Defense Forces are managing to conduct active defense,” Romanenko emphasized.

In his view, how the situation develops further will depend on Ukrainian forces’ ability to hold back the enemy’s advance, inflict losses on it, and maintain defensive lines.

At the same time, Romanenko emphasized that Ukrainian forces need society’s constant support, since Russia, despite its failures to achieve strategic goals, continues waging intense combat operations.

It was previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv, stated that he is ready to begin direct negotiations with Putin right now to end the war. In this way, the head of state is reminding everyone that Kyiv remains open to constructive dialogue, while putting Putin in a certain bind.

Read also: Europe Is Financing Ukraine’s Defense Without US Help — Merz