After weeks of reverses, Russia’s army is still losing ground in the battlefields of Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin’s response, characteristically, has been to escalate on other fronts.
Putin expanded the military draft, announcing a call-up of 300,000 reservists and prompting an exodus of Russian men to neighboring countries.
On Friday, he formally announced Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian provinces, turning them — at least rhetorically — into Russian territory that he can never negotiate away.
Most chilling, Putin renewed threats that he is ready to use nuclear weapons if Ukraine’s troops try to take those provinces back.