The Kremlin has not commented on the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, probably because Russia has failed to achieve any of its stated goals and has not made significant territorial gains since July 2022, the Institute for the Study of War said in the latest assessment of the Russian offensive campaign.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his administration have not made any statements on the anniversary, although he has spoken in public repeatedly over the past three days.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev made provocative statements that Russia would win the war and added that in order to achieve its goals, it was vital for Russia to "push the borders that threaten (Russia - ed.) as far as possible, even if they are the borders of Poland."
"Medvedev's statements highlight the fact that the Kremlin is continuing to pursue its unrealistic maximalist goals even though it has no meaningful successes to offer the Russian people after a year of costly war in Ukraine," the ISW's report says.
Analysts suggest that Russian officials are likely seeking support from Chinese defense manufacturers due to restrictions that international sanctions regimes have placed on Russia's defense industry.
Experts recall that the United Kingdom government and the US Department of Treasury both announced new sanctions and export ban measures on February 24 specifically targeting industries, entities, and individuals supporting Russian military capabilities.
In addition, according to the report, Western governments made various statements on the provision of military aid to Ukraine on February 24 .
Experts also note that the Kremlin escalated its information conditions-setting for a possible false-flag operation in Russian-occupied Transnistria, Moldova.
Some Russian milbloggers have amplified the Kremlin's rhetoric, claiming that the situation along the Ukraine-Transnistria border is becoming increasingly tense, experts say. They also remind that Moldovan officials continued to deny Russian claims on February 24, characterizing them as "aggressive disinformation" or "a psychological operation."