# Putin's real war is political exhaustion

> Russia's nightly drone attacks aim to wear down civilians, but Moscow's true strategy targets Western resolve, says security analyst Nico Lange.
- Title: Putin's real war is political exhaustion · POLITICO | Shortify
- Summary: Russia's nightly drone attacks aim to wear down civilians, but Moscow's true strategy targets Western resolve, says security analyst Nico Lange. Nico Lange…
- Keywords: russia, ukraine, nico lange, kremlin strategy, western resolve, germany, escalation fears, politics, world, Putin's, real, war
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/security-sunday-europas-krieg-der-zukunft-mit-nico-lange
- Published: 2026-10-11T03:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: russia, ukraine, nico lange, kremlin strategy, western resolve, germany, escalation fears, politics, world
## Russia's nightly assault on Ukraine
Russia launches drone and rocket attacks on Ukraine almost every night to wear down the civilian population, but makes little military progress on the ground.
## Putin's real battlefield is political
The Kremlin's true strategy targets political exhaustion of Europe and the United States rather than military victory, according to Nico Lange, director of the Institute for Risk Analysis and International Security.
## German fear of escalation aids Putin
Germany's fear of escalation unintentionally helps Putin's plan. Western hesitation has led to refused weapons systems and passive handling of Russia's shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea.
## Key takeaway

Nico Lange, director of the Institute for Risk Analysis and International Security, argues Russia's military stagnation masks a political strategy aimed at exhausting Europe and the US, enabled by Western hesitation.