“The worst-case scenarios for 2024 didn't take place, the front didn't collapse. There wasn't a major Russian breakthrough anywhere along the front line. The Russian military wasn't able to take any of the most significant cities. Some of the Russian offensive like the Kharkiv offensive, failed visibly. We still don't know how the winter will turn out. And looking at Ukrainian critical infrastructure because there's still quite a bit of winter to go. But so far, it's also not been the worst-case scenario when we look at the damage Russia inflicted on Ukraine's power generation capacity.

On the other hand, I do think that the year very much went in the wrong direction. And I think the war's been on a negative trajectory since about the fall of 2023, to be honest with you. I think the best-case scenarios didn't take place either,” said the guest of the new episode of the (Un)Safe Country podcast.

“Ukraine was able to hold Russia to incremental gains last year. Ukraine had a tactically successful offensive in Kursk, although I think the potential operational gains, or even perhaps more strategic benefits of that offensive, had not been realized. And we can circle back to that topic if you like.

But I think we're entering 2025 with Ukraine in a very difficult position. There are some very glaring structural issues in terms of Ukraine's manpower, mobilization, and force management decisions that were made last year, that could have been a lot better. And if we look at the overall funding situation and prospects for sustained Western support, Ukraine certainly faces an uncertain future this year.”

What scenarios might unfold in Ukraine in 2025, and which of last year's forecasts have come true?

In the new episode of (un)Safe Country podcast, its permanent host Alina Frolova speaks with a military analyst Michael Kofman, senior fellow at the Russia and Eurasia Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The conversation covers the current situation in Ukraine and the state of the Russian military, potential negotiations, Moskov’s position and security guarantees for Ukraine, the economic situation in Russia and its impact on ending the war, as well as possible scenarios for 2025.