Strategic mistake: Russian soldiers die in hundreds in Putin’s new offensive on Kharkiv

Russia’s renewed push toward Kharkiv marks the opening of a third offensive that carries more political urgency than military feasibility. Moscow is attempting to manufacture the appearance of momentum, seeking a symbolic breakthrough that could influence both domestic narratives and upcoming international negotiations. Behind this effort lies a broader Kremlin strategy: to stretch Ukrainian defenses along the border, force Kyiv to disperse its reserves, and create the illusion of an advancing front. However, the operational reality on the ground suggests that Russia is once again pursuing objectives disconnected from its actual capabilities. The campaign is shaped less by battlefield logic and more by political desperation, propaganda optics, and the need to claim progress where none exists. As this offensive unfolds, its strategic flaws are already visible, revealing a costly miscalculation that risks repeating the failures of previous attempts on Kharkiv.

‍