Source: Quillette
by Tomislav Kardum
“By prioritising its war in Ukraine — an endeavour fuelled more by historical mysticism than by strategic calculation — Russia is rapidly losing influence across its broader post-imperial periphery. The latest diplomatic rupture with Azerbaijan over a police raid in Yekaterinburg may seem like a sudden spark, but it is in fact the result of years of accumulated neglect, tactical incoherence, and strategic overreach. While the Kremlin is mired in a grinding war of attrition in Ukraine, regional actors within Moscow’s sphere of influence are breaking away. These are not merely isolated incidents—they form a pattern of systemic geopolitical decline.” (07/26/25)
https://quillette.com/2025/07/26/russias-strategic-blindness-ukraine-azerbaijan-armenia/