Ukraine’s Battlefield Gains Compete With Russia’s Expanding Strike Campaign
Military analyst Michael Kofman argues that Ukraine has the initiative in parts of the front, but that advantage does not establish who will win the war. In a discussion with combat veteran and war commentator Preston Stewart on Lex Fridman’s podcast, he describes a more fluid battlefield shaped by drones and infiltration, alongside Russia’s sustained attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Neither side appears close to collapse, and the outcome depends on whether current military advantages can be sustained and on political aims that remain far apart.
Lex Fridman·Nov 11, 2026·31 min read