Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped that this summer’s “40-Day Influence Campaign”, a wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Russia’s energy sites, would spark enough unrest to force Moscow into ending the war. By inflicting fresh pain on a rival nuclear power, it would also showcase Kyiv’s utility to its chief sponsor in Washington.
Instead, Zelensky triggered a more punishing Russian missile campaign that his depleted military has been unable to stop. Now comes a second blow.
