Vladimir Putin’s war machine is facing a brutal new test as the United States declares Ukraine is now winning the war — while Russian energy supplies come under relentless attack.
A senior US State Department official has claimed the battlefield has shifted in Kyiv’s favour, saying Ukraine has moved into a new phase where it is gaining the upper hand against Moscow.
Jeremy Levin, US Deputy Secretary of State, said: “As of now, we are in a position where Ukraine is winning the war at this moment.”
His comments mark a dramatic change in tone from earlier assessments of the conflict, with Washington now arguing that Ukraine’s strikes deep inside Russia are forcing the Kremlin to pay an increasingly painful price.
The official said Ukrainian attacks on critical oil infrastructure had increased pressure on Moscow, forcing Russia to divert resources away from the front line and deal with growing problems at home.
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The Kremlin is now battling a worsening fuel crisis after Ukrainian drone strikes targeted key energy sites, including major refineries and military-linked facilities.
Russia’s largest refinery supplying Moscow’s region is reportedly facing a prolonged shutdown, while fuel shortages have spread across multiple regions.
In occupied Crimea, authorities have gone further, restricting civilian access to fuel after attacks damaged energy infrastructure and disrupted supplies.
The pressure comes as Western allies tighten the economic squeeze on Moscow.
European leaders have extended sanctions against Russia, while Washington considers further restrictions on Russian oil revenues — a move designed to hit one of the Kremlin’s most important sources of funding.
Levin said the moment was critical for Ukraine to maintain pressure, warning that continued support from allies would be essential to turning battlefield gains into lasting results.
But despite mounting problems, the Kremlin has insisted Russia’s economy remains stable.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Moscow’s financial position was secure, even as Russia faces huge war spending, budget pressures and growing strain on its energy sector.
The latest developments represent a stark contrast to the early months of the invasion, when Moscow expected a swift victory.
Instead, nearly four years into the war, Ukraine is striking inside Russia, disrupting vital infrastructure and forcing the Kremlin to defend territory far beyond the battlefield.
For Putin, the biggest threat may no longer simply be Ukraine’s resistance — but the growing gap between the image of an unstoppable Russian war machine and the reality of a conflict becoming increasingly costly.
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