Admiral Radakin asserts Ukraine is winning the war against Russia, despite continued civilian casualties from shelling.
The United Kingdom’s most senior military officer, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, has stated that Ukraine is winning its war against Russia and will ultimately “survive” as a nation. Speaking at the Sir John Slessor Memorial Lecture in Parliament, the Chief of the Defence Staff explained that Russia’s forces, initially hoping for a swift victory, have instead found themselves entrenched in a prolonged conflict of attrition.
Radakin emphasised that Putin’s forces had underestimated Ukraine’s resolve, stating: “It’s clear Ukraine is winning, and Putin is losing.” He also pointed out that Russia believed it could capture Ukraine’s cities within days, yet the resistance shown by the Ukrainian people has thwarted these expectations. “On the Ukrainian side, we’ve seen incredible national effort, matched by bravery on the ground and in the air,” he remarked.
Recent Ukrainian military advances have seen Russian forces pushed back, particularly around Kharkiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrating the regaining of territory up to the Russian border. However, the war continues to bring devastating consequences for civilians, with shelling in Donetsk and Luhansk regions resulting in more casualties, including a child. In the eastern city of Sievierdonetsk, at least 10 people were killed by Russian bombardment.
The situation in Mariupol also remains dire, as the Ukrainian defenders at the Azovstal steelworks are reportedly preparing to fulfil orders to protect their remaining troops, signalling the possible end of the prolonged siege. The Ukrainian forces, holed up beneath the steel plant, have been holding out against overwhelming odds, with many wounded soldiers still holding their ground.
As Russian forces continue to press their attacks, the humanitarian crisis deepens. Ukraine estimates tens of thousands of civilians have perished in Mariupol alone, where much of the city has been destroyed. Russian officials have confirmed that they are evacuating wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant to a medical facility in Novoazovsk, though the situation remains critical.
On the diplomatic front, the European Union has struggled to impose a full embargo on Russian oil, with countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic opposing a ban due to their reliance on Russian supplies. EU foreign ministers were unable to reach an agreement, with Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, citing the technical complexity of the issue. However, a political agreement was reached on a fourth tranche of financial aid to help Ukraine acquire weapons, bringing the total funding for arms and nonlethal assistance to €2 billion.
Meanwhile, tensions between Turkey and the pro-Ukrainian NATO members are escalating. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Sweden and Finland should not bother attempting to convince Turkey to approve their NATO membership applications, citing alleged links between these countries and terrorist organisations, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
