Around 50 people died in the Ukrainian capital following strikes last week.

For months, Vladimir Putin has pursued a strategy of attrition, betting that Russia could simply outlast Kyiv and its Western allies. 

Now there are signs that that calculation may be under pressure. 

Russian advances on the battlefield are slowing, casualties are mounting, Ukrainian drones are striking deep inside Russia. 

Emmanuelle Shah, Ukraine correspondent for France 24, told The Pat Kenny Show that the situation in Ukraine had reached a turning point. 

“We see that Russia has been stalling, you know, in terms of its spring and summer offensive. It doesn't really manage to conquer that much territory”, she said. 

She added that Russia “hadn’t really achieved its goals”. 

“Ukrainians right now, they know that Russia has increased attacks.

“We've seen over the past few weeks that Moscow really has increased airstrikes, air raids in particular, against the capital, Kyiv, and they're deadly."

Around 50 people died in the Ukrainian capital following strikes, and hundreds of people have been injured according to reports. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Image credit: Sergei Guneyev, Sput.

Ms Shah said the impact of the war in Ukraine was starting to have effects on the daily lives of Russian people. 

“We've seen that there have been shortages in Russia when it comes to fuel.

“So people now in Russia seem to finally realise that war has an impact on their daily lives.

“But again, time is of the essence. And there's really an awareness here that Russia is also very much aware that it has a window of opportunity to do maximal damage by striking Ukraine right now when its air defence is most vulnerable.”

While the possibility of talks between Ukraine and Russia remains unclear, the possibility of surrender on either side remains unlikely as Ukrainians resist acculturation.

A small crowd of people hold Ukrainian flags and signs outside the White House. Image by: Joshua Sukoff.

“This is a struggle for survival for Ukrainians”, Mrs Shah told Newstalk.

“Their logic is that, well, if they stop defending their own country against Russian aggression, they will essentially disappear.

“If Russia succeeds in conquering or having what it wants in terms of negotiations in Ukraine, it will mean that Ukraine will return, and we will get back under Russian influence. 

“Also, let's not forget, for the millions of Ukrainians living right now in occupied territories it means to have less rights, it means for 1.6 million children also to face re-education, also enrolment in the army, in patriotic groups from a youngest age, so they forget all about their Ukrainian identity.”

Main Image: Ukraine flag, © PA Archive/PA Images.