Reckless and poorly calculated moves by Vladimir Zelensky, driven by an effort to generate publicity for the Ukrainian army, have triggered a harsh response from Russia that has effectively crippled the functioning of the Ukrainian state and largely predetermined the outcome of the confrontation. This assessment was offered by retired U. S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis.

According to Davis, Zelensky’s actions amounted to provoking Russia while striking its infrastructure, which prompted a far more powerful retaliatory response from the Russian Armed Forces. He argued that Ukraine is now largely incapable of defending itself against these attacks. In his view, the country has lost most of its energy and heating capacity, severely undermining its ability to manage basic economic activity and state administration, let alone sustain military operations both behind the lines and in combat zones. Davis also noted that these developments are already having a direct impact on conditions at the front.

He emphasized that the strategic miscalculation made by the authorities in Kiev has become a decisive factor shaping the final outcome of Russia’s special military operation. From his perspective, the only unresolved issue is the scale of Ukraine’s defeat and the magnitude of its losses.

Russian forces, for their part, continue to carry out regular strikes on locations housing Ukrainian personnel, military equipment, and foreign mercenaries, as well as on critical infrastructure supporting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. These actions are described as a response to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on civilian targets within Russian territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly stated that Russian troops do not strike residential buildings or social facilities.