Is Russia's time as a dominant power coming to an end?

Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald · May 5, 2026 · 29m

Russia has crossed the threshold of losing more soldiers than it's able to mobilise. Some troops are paying their commanders to get a spot at the back of the Russian forces. Others are deserting entirely. And when soldiers do return home, they often bring the violence with them.

President Putin controls a powerful pro-war narrative, which helped rationalise this war of choice to his people. But are the effects of this propaganda beginning to wane? And after a harsh winter, what has changed within Ukraine?

As Russia fails to bring this war to a close, and the world moves to phase out fossil…