Ukraine Just Shattered Putin’s Biggest Drone Advantage

Ukraine is turning Russia’s greatest historic advantage—its vast strategic depth—into a dangerous source of exposure. From besieging Crimea and disrupting Russian logistics to striking oil refineries, weapons depots and strategic bombers deep inside the country, Kyiv’s rapidly evolving capabilities have left Moscow with more targets than it can realistically defend.

Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London, joins The Global Gambit to explain how Ukraine has transformed Crimea into an effective island, why its drone warfare is forcing NATO to catch up, and where Russia still retains a dangerous advantage.

We also examine Putin’s deepening strategic trap: he needs more soldiers but fears another mobilisation; he wants negotiations on maximalist terms but sees every compromise as weakness; and he insists Russia is winning while its economy, manpower and military credibility continue to deteriorate.

Can Ukraine survive another brutal winter? Is Russia heading towards a reckoning? And has Putin boxed himself into a war he can neither win nor end?

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