ISW says Putin's September front-line claims are detached from reality

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Friday that President Vladimir Putin described Russian gains on the Ukrainian front in September in a manner it deems completely detached from reality, likening the claims to hallucinations. While Putin asserted that Russian troops had seized a large swath of Ukrainian land, ISW contends that the actual net change was a loss of territory. ISW also noted Putin's warning that Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons if European forces target areas such as Kaliningrad.

The institute reminded readers of previous Russian officials' threats toward European capitals and stressed that these statements serve a broader Kremlin cognitive-war strategy. Additionally, ISW outlined Russia's intention to raise its defence spending to record levels, with a projected budget exceeding $200 billion in the next year, marking a sharp reversal from earlier plans to moderate military expenditures.