The Daily Understanding Putin's Power
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Sep 9, 2025 
Anatoly Kurmanaev, a skilled reporter for The New York Times, provides insights into the economic underpinnings of Russia's military strategy amid the war in Ukraine. He discusses the recent surge in drone assaults and Russia's innovative recruitment tactics, which include enticing enlistment with financial rewards. Kurmanaev highlights how Putin’s oil wealth sustains military actions while revealing the ironic trajectory toward isolation that may accompany Russia's quest for superpower status. The conversation reveals the complexities of a seemingly stable society on the brink.
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Russia Leading The War Of Attrition
- Russia is winning a war of attrition by mobilizing more resources and troops than Ukraine can sustain.
- Anatoly Kurmanaev argues that daily shifts in force balance and drone production favor Russia over time.
Watch Men And Money, Not Just Battles
- Monitor recruitment and funding trends as leading indicators of which side can sustain a war of attrition.
- Policy responses should prioritize reducing an adversary's ability to mobilize men and money over expecting quick battlefield collapses.
Payments Power Recruitment
- Russia shifted from a draft to paid volunteer recruitment with large signing bonuses and battlefield payouts.
- Kurmanaev describes how structured payments (for kills, territory, injuries, death) create strong monetary incentives to enlist.