Why haven’t the Russians ended the war in Ukraine despite their superiority?  

When it comes to Ukraine, there’s no comparison between Western and Russian military production.  

The Russians outmatch the Ukrainians in ammunition, repaired equipment, new gear, and fighters—sometimes by five, ten, or even twenty times in certain areas.  

So why haven’t they finished the war?  

Because Russian needs have run up against Ukrainian creativity and adaptability, which have blinded Russia’s modern military doctrine—still rooted in outdated Soviet fighting principles.  

Despite their superiority, the Russians can’t translate it into rapid progress. Their drone and anti-drone tactics are still evolving during this war, learned on the battlefield itself.  

No matter how many tanks or artillery pieces they deploy, they remain easy targets for Ukrainian drones with ranges stretching dozens of kilometers. But for Ukraine, this is purely defensive, as drones can’t capture ground.  

The Ukrainian turning point in this war has been so critical that it’s somewhat diminished the historical importance of artillery in Soviet doctrine, which still lingers in both Ukrainian and Russian military academies and their allies.  

The modern battlefield doesn’t allow for the kind of advance they initially envisioned, forcing them to relearn tactics and redesign their doctrines.  

With enough equipment and manpower, why do the Russians need North Koreans or others?  

This year, they’re winning the war of attrition without overly straining their industries, but they’re far from having the strength to occupy Ukraine without full mobilization.  

Russian drones and missiles will keep rattling Ukraine, just as Kyiv will retaliate, perhaps less intensely. But this won’t end the war.  

This leads us to believe that Russia’s recent deal with North Korea carries bigger implications than it seems.  

Without an agreement bringing in 250,000–300,000 foreign troops, Russia won’t be able to launch new offensives on other fronts in Ukraine without full mobilization—and even then, it’ll be a bloody fight.  

Most likely, we’ll continue to see slow Russian progress despite their edge, at the expense of a Ukraine that lacks any real hope of victory.  

It’s worth noting that this seems to be a new constant in future conflicts: drones are here to stay, and when paired with artificial intelligence, they’ll increasingly replace soldiers and create headaches for any old-school blitzkrieg tactics.