Moscow, Russia: For the past three years, I have been reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war, covering conflict zones like Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia multiple times. Recently, I was in the United States to cover the presidential election. On February 13, I had the opportunity to be at the White House when President Donald Trump met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this meeting, I was able to ask both leaders questions about the ongoing war.
Upon returning to India, I closely observed the escalating war of words between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. What initially started as a Russia vs. NATO conflict had now evolved into a complex triangular battle. Trump soon sent his special envoy Steve Witkoff, to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and I, too, left for Moscow and the battlefield to analyze the shifting dynamics.
Coincidentally, on March 18, when Trump and Putin were speaking over the phone, I was in Melitopol, a key city in Zaporizhzhia. Next day when Trump and Zelensky held a telephonic conversation, I was inside the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, assessing the security concerns following drone and missile attacks.
Sitting by the shores of the Sea of Azov, I asked myself a crucial question—Is this the rebirth of Russia?
Russia: A nation expanding in size and confidence
Russia remains the only country in the world that has expanded its territory in recent years. In 2014, Crimea became a part of Russia. After 2022, four more Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia were declared into the Russian Federation. To put it into perspective, this combined landmass is comparable to Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, or larger than several European countries.
Debates over the legitimacy of these annexations will continue, but one undeniable fact is that these regions are now permanently integrated into Russia. As the world’s largest country, Russia has grown even larger.
However, this transformation cannot be dismissed as merely a territorial expansion. If we analyze the events of the past three years, it becomes evident that this is part of Russia’s strategic resurgence—a revival of its lost confidence and global standing following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Despite facing unprecedented economic and military sanctions from the United States and over 30 Western nations, Russia did not succumb. Any other country facing such extreme global isolation would have likely collapsed. Yet, Russia not only survived but emerged stronger, defying all expectations.
Russia’s journey to self-sufficiency
In February 2022, when Western sanctions abruptly halted the functioning of Visa and Mastercard in Russia, ordinary citizens faced immense hardships. Daily necessities, medical services, and financial transactions were severely disrupted. Additionally, there was a deep moral dilemma within Russian society—fighting a war against Ukrainians, who were once considered brothers and allies, evoked strong ethical concerns.
In the early months of the war, Russian forces suffered setbacks in certain areas, leading to widespread apprehension and dissatisfaction among the people. During my travels between Donetsk, Mariupol, and major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, I encountered civilians eager to learn the ground realities of the war. Many believed the Kremlin was withholding crucial information from them.
President Vladimir Putin understood this sentiment and maintained continuous communication with the public. Over time, circumstances changed—confidence in the leadership grew, military recruitment became more transparent, and timely salaries and benefits boosted soldiers’ morale.
By early 2023, when I visited the battlefront in Avdiivka, Russian soldiers welcomed me with warm food. It was then that I realized: a nation that can send fresh meals to its troops in a war zone cannot be easily defeated.
As time passed, public opinion shifted. In 2022, many Russians criticized Putin and questioned the necessity of the war. But by 2023, a growing number of people accepted that Russia had no alternative. Initially, Ukrainian forces, armed with Western weapons, put up strong resistance. However, over time, many in Ukraine realized that they were merely pawns in a larger geopolitical game. This is why, after late 2022, Ukraine failed to achieve any significant military breakthroughs.
Mariupol: A symbol of rebirth
Mariupol is a prime example of Russia’s transformation. In May 2022, I had reported on the final battle at the Azovstal Steel Plant and the devastation that engulfed the city. At the time, I had posed a question—Would Putin rebuild Mariupol the same way he rebuilt Grozny after the Chechen wars?
Now, three years later, when I returned to Mariupol, the city’s transformation was astonishing. Many areas showed no visible signs of past destruction. The large-scale reconstruction efforts were proof of the Kremlin’s strategic planning and ability to restore war-torn regions.
Putin’s leadership has played a crucial role in this resurgence. His administration successfully countered Western economic pressure while maintaining domestic stability. A turning point came when then-U.S. President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine, reinforcing Russia’s belief that this was not just Ukraine’s war—it was a direct confrontation between Russia and the West. This realization united Russian society, making every citizen a stakeholder in the conflict.
A confident superpower re-emerges
Russia did not just withstand Western sanctions—it turned them into an opportunity for self-reliance. The country’s economy remained stable, its military production increased, and internal solidarity strengthened.
Three years on, it is clear that Russia has become more self-sufficient, more confident, and more powerful than before.
So, is this the second birth of Russia?
Perhaps, yes. This is a New Russia—a nation that has endured immense challenges, learned from them, and emerged stronger.
History has shown that whenever Russia is pressured, it retaliates with greater force. And perhaps, that is the true essence of Russia.
