Putin’s key supporters are now playing a desperate face-saving game in Ukraine

‘The Kremlin is suffering major setbacks, but will not alter its negotiating strategy.’ Ukrainian soldiers inspect a destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv, 16 April. Photograph: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA

Russia’s war in Ukraine is not going according to plan. The sinking of the Moskva – the flagship of the Black Sea fleet – is the latest major military setback. In the course of almost two months, Russia has lost six major generals and between 15,000-20,000 troops, all the while failing to secure any appreciable gains.

Reports of low morale and defection, coupled with sightings of mercenaries deployed by the Kremlin, hint at recruitment problems. This, along with Russia’s apparent inability to replenish lost military equipment – a consequence of western sanctions – has led some observers to wonder whether the Russian war machine is running out of road.