Russia-Ukraine war: Putin 'becoming more informed' about challenges, U.S. intel chief says

Russia’s war in Ukraine has now entered its tenth month, and as the weather drops below freezing, the invasion enters a new phase. According to the head of U.S. intelligence, the war is running at a “reduced tempo.” Meanwhile, a Kremlin official defended Russia’s repeated strikes against Ukraine’s crucial energy facilities, which the civilian population needs to stay warm this winter. Here are the latest developments…

Putin more ‘informed’ about military difficulties says intelligence chief

The U.S. director of national intelligence said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has become "better informed" about the challenges the military is facing. Speaking at a defense forum, Avril Haines indicated the Kremlin leader was no longer shielded from negative information about Russia's standing in the war. Haines also stated that the conflict also seemed to be operating at a "reduced tempo" as both sides resupply for a possible spring counter-offensive.

Kremlin defends infrastructure strikes

Sergey Lavrov, the Kremlin's foreign minister, defended Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure stating that they were legitimate targets. "This infrastructure supports the combat capability of the Ukrainian armed forces and nationalist battalions," Lavrov said Thursday during a video call with reporters. Removing the energy facilities, he said, would in turn minimize the number of Russian casualties as these infrastructures "allow you to keep pumping deadly weapons into Ukraine."

Macron talks peace negotiations

During a state visit to the U.S., French President Emmanuel Macron said that the West should consider Russia's need for security guarantees if peace talks are to take place again. Speaking in an interview with French media on Saturday, Macron stated that Europe should prepare a "dialogue" for both Russian officials and Ukrainian officials "return to the table."

"One of the essential points we must address, as President Putin has always said, is the fear that NATO comes right up to its doors, and the deployment of weapons that could threaten Russia," Macron said. He added that preparation must be done so that Europe knows "what we are ready to do, how we protect our allies and member states."

Russia lost 60 aircraft likely from Ukrainian ‘air defense’

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense revealed on Monday that Russia has lost over 60 fixed-wing aircraft so far in the invasion. At the start of the war, Russia was operating as high as 300 missions per day but is now "conducting significantly" fewer missions per day. "This decrease is likely a result of the threat of Ukrainian air defenses, limitations on the flying hours available, and increasingly worse weather," the defense ministry tweeted.

“With Russia’s ground attack tactics largely reliant on visual identification and unguided munitions, the Russian air force will likely continue a low rate of ground attack operations through the poor winter weather.”