Is Russia losing the war? The Kremlin bites back with airstrikes accusing Ukraine and the US of an attempt on President Putin's life, but some think this is more a show of weakness than strength.
Ukraine tried to kill Putin, claims Moscow
Is Russia losing the war? The Kremlin bites back with airstrikes accusing Ukraine and the US of an attempt on President Putin's life, but some think this is more a show of weakness than strength.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="crosshead">War and Peace</h2>
In the dead of night in July 1918, a family of seven was awoken and told to get ready for a journey. But as they hastened to cram jewels, gold and icons into their pockets, their captors unleashed a sea of bullets, killing the two parents and all five of their young children.
This was no ordinary family. Vladimir LeninA Russian communist revolutionary and first head of the Soviet Union who rose to prominence during Russia's 1917 revolution. 's BolshevikA member of the communist group led by Lenin that took power in Russia in 1917. revolutionaries had assassinated Russia's ImperialRelating to an empire. royalty, the House of Romanov.
By wiping out the Romanovs, who had ruled for three centuries, they had eradicated the only other people with a claim to lead Russia. The stage was set for the almost 70-year rule of the Soviet UnionOfficially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991. .
And now, a modern leader narrowly avoids execution. On Wednesday, two drones targeted Putin's residence in Moscow. Videos show a flying object whizzing towards the KremlinA central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel. before it is shot down by security forces.
Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov initially blamed Ukraine for the attacks, but the Kremlin later stated that "decisions on such terrorist attacks are made not in Kyiv, but in Washington".
Authorities from the US and UK have already cast doubt on the supposed assassinationThe murder of an important person, such as a politician, royal or business leader. attempt.
Some think the supposed attempt is just another military tactic. Support for the war is falling among Russians amid economic instability, ongoing sanctionsEconomic measures designed to punish a country, for instance by excluding it from trade. and a months-long struggle to capture BakhmutA city in eastern Ukraine. . Fear of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory could raise public support.
If the drone strikes were faked, it may be a sign that Russian officials are trying to step up their attacks amid recent failures. Russia has failed to secure support from China and faces a powerful Ukrainian counteroffensive this spring.
The Kremlin is already vowing action for the supposed attempt on Putin's life. But some will say these are the final cries of a wounded animal.
Yes: Russia has run out of both support and resources. Resorting to these desperate measures in order to drum up even a little enthusiasm for his war suggests that Putin knows he no longer has the country behind him.
No: There is no real evidence that Russia is losing the war. If anything, this story shows that it intends to scale up the offensive.
Or... Moscow will use this attack to threaten to go nuclear in Ukraine once again. The possibility that Russia will wield its nuclear weapons when it starts to lose the war will never go away.
Vladimir Lenin - A Russian communist revolutionary and first head of the Soviet Union who rose to prominence during Russia's 1917 revolution.
Bolshevik - A member of the communist group led by Lenin that took power in Russia in 1917.
Imperial - Relating to an empire.
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Assassination - The murder of an important person, such as a politician, royal or business leader.
Sanctions - Economic measures designed to punish a country, for instance by excluding it from trade.
Bakhmut - A city in eastern Ukraine.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is Russia losing the war? </strong></h5>
Ukraine tried to kill Putin, claims Moscow

Glossary
Vladimir Lenin - A Russian communist revolutionary and first head of the Soviet Union who rose to prominence during Russia's 1917 revolution.
Bolshevik - A member of the communist group led by Lenin that took power in Russia in 1917.
Imperial - Relating to an empire.
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Assassination - The murder of an important person, such as a politician, royal or business leader.
Sanctions - Economic measures designed to punish a country, for instance by excluding it from trade.
Bakhmut - A city in eastern Ukraine.