Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russia Backfiring by Hardening Public Support for War

What was said

"All of the indicators are this is having the opposite intended effect. Whereas Zelensky thought by hitting these targets inside of Russia and making life a living hell and an inconvenience for the Russian people, it would force them to turn on Putin and the war and force pressure on Putin to cut a deal quickly. The opposite is happening."

Ukraine's escalating drone campaign against Russian infrastructure has produced unintended consequences, strengthening rather than weakening Russian resolve, according to analysis of Russian public sentiment. The strikes, intended to pressure Putin into negotiations by creating civilian hardship, have instead galvanized Russian support for escalation and vindicated the Kremlin's portrayal of Ukraine as an existential threat. The analyst characterizes Zelensky's massive drone assault as a sign of desperation to generate additional Western aid as Ukrainian front lines buckle.