Despite many stumbles and setbacks, the Russian military has gained near total control of the Donbas region, giving the Kremlin huge leverage in any future talks.
Although Russian forces failed to take Kyiv, they have captured large chunks of the south and east, giving Moscow a chance to strangle the country economically.
Besides their military failures, the Russians entered the war believing they could persuade Ukrainians in the east to join their side. Those efforts have failed spectacularly.
The women say they were forced onto a bus to Russian-controlled territory, then escaped what Ukrainian and U.S. officials have described as “filtration” centers for a system of forced expulsions to Russia.