After a bleak winter which saw months of fierce Russian bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the future is beginning to look more positive for Kyiv. Nearly four-and-a-half years since Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s frontline advances have slowed almost to a halt, as Ukrainian counter-attacks and defensive tactics become more effective. Successes in local counterattacks have become more frequent, as Ukrainian forces scale up their use of ground robots and short-range drone warfare. A serviceman of the 15th ‘Kara-Dag’ Brigade of the Operational Assignment of the National Guard of Ukraine walks near destroyed apartment buildings during his combat mission (Reuters) But most importantly, Kyiv has succeeded in bringing home the war to Russia, inflicting costly damage to its fuel infrastructure which has caused major shortages. This has fomented public discontent in Russia, increasing the pressure on Putin to end the conflict. Read more: How Ukraine’s audacious drone campaign sparked a fuel crisis 3,500km behind enemy lines The cost of his war is laid bare in data showing the scale of Russian …