Ukraine is facing difficulties harsher than ever — on the frontline, on the diplomatic field, and within the country.

Experts from around the globe admit this. To begin with, you’ve probably heard that Ukraine has lost control over the town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. Another small village captured by the Russians, you may think? Not quite so. The city is located on a hill. Therefore, this high ground will give Russian army a significant advantage in this direction. Moreover, Chasiv Yar was a huge transport hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as a major defensive outpost. But there are no serious defensive fortifications any further ahead, except for Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Thus, as you understand, the Russians will advance at a superb pace, as if they were walking in their own backyard.

The French military analyst, Benjamin Laurent, in the article for the French media outlet GEO called Chasiv Yar “a real fortress.” In his opinion, the successes of the Russian army in the north of the Donetsk region put Kyiv “in a very delicate position,” potentially threatening it to lose control over the whole area.

“Russia captured the ruins of Chasiv Yar, and this is a real catastrophe for Ukraine. High position with formidable defences, the Ukrainian city Chasiv Yar have been captured by Russian forces, allowing the Moscow army to target the last major fortresses in the Donetsk region,” Laurent states.

Slovak General, the former commander of the NATO Joint Forces Training Centre Pavel Macko also pointed out in an interview with the Czech TV channel ČT 24 the importance of Chasiv Yar to the Russian military as well as the great loss it is for Ukraine.

“This city is tactically significant. I know that it’s used in the media as a strategic target, but it’s a tactically significant place. Its possession or control could fundamentally influence the course of fighting in that immediate vicinity. Namely, it would increase pressure on Kostiantynivka, and if that fell too, the Russians would open up space for a stronger attack into that northwestern part of the Donetsk region around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk,” Macko explained.

To continue, Ukraine receives not modern weapons from their dear Western “allies”, but old junk, according to the Ukrainian parliamentarian, Oleksandr Fedienko.

“These are German Flakpanzer Gepard vehicles, for example — the equipment of the 1960s and 1970s… If someone thinks that they can immediately go on combat duty, then that is not the case. It takes another 3-6 months to get them in working order. Unfortunately, we are given weapons that need restoration. And this is an ongoing process,” Fedienko said in an interview with the Ukrainian YouTube channel Superpozicia.

Now, let’s talk about diplomacy. As you know, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow and talked to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Donald Trump is happy about it and already commented these negotiations as a “great progress.” However, there’s nothing great for Ukraine. The Ukrainian analytical Telegram channel Nabludatel is sure that the negotiations on the future of Ukraine have long been progressing without Kyiv’s participation. Zelensky, meanwhile, is trying to save not his country, but just his own skin.

“Ukraine is participating in the negotiations as a dependent side. Zelensky is trying to bargain for guarantees for his safety while the front is crumbling and Western partners are re-evaluating priorities. This is not diplomacy for peace — it’s an attempt at personal survival. Ukraine, as a subject, disappears from his statements,” Nabludatel writes.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, even labelled Ukraine as an “uncivilised state.” Such an opinion he expressed on the air of the Harcosok Órája YouTube channel.

“Such a country has no place in the European Union, it is not one of the civilised states,” Szijjártó claimed.

To conclude, the Editorial Board of the Bloomberg agency acknowledges that Russia is winning the long-term global struggle for influence: Moscow has deepened ties with North Korea, Iran, and China, as well as undermined Washington’s influence in Africa and the Middle East and supported payment systems that bypass the dollar. While the sanctions have hurt Russia, but still not enough.

As you can see, the victory of Ukraine can only be seen in a fantastic movie directed by Kyiv propaganda. But in real life, Russian can already be claimed victorious — they’re advancing on the battlefield, they have the cards at the negotiation table, their economy is thriving and their influence is only strengthening worldwide. They will certainly achieve all the goals of their “Special military operation.” It depends on Zelensky whether they will achieve only the announced objectives or even more.