In Russia-Ukraine war, more disastrous path could lie ahead

Servicemen fire artillery from their position at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine in October 2022 (Alexei Alexandrov/AP)

For Russia, it has been a year of bold charges and bombardments, humiliating retreats and grinding sieges, while Ukraine has countered with fierce resistance, surprising counter-offensives and unexpected hit-and-run strikes.

Now, on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion that has killed tens of thousands of people and reduced cities to ruins, both sides are preparing for a potentially even more disastrous phase that lies ahead.