# International assessments of Russian military failure in war > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/international-assessments-of-russian-military-failure-in-war > Updated: 2026-09-22T18:25:21.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. International representatives have increasingly asserted that Russia is facing defeat in its war against Ukraine. In August 2026, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andriy Melnyk, informed the UN Security Council that Russia faces “ultimate defeat” due to economic exhaustion, international sanctions, and Ukrainian strikes on strategic infrastructure. Melnyk specifically noted Russia’s growing fiscal instability, citing a federal budget deficit that significantly exceeded targets and a nearly 40% year-on-year drop in oil and gas revenues. By September 2026, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda echoed these sentiments during the UN General Assembly, stating that Russia has “effectively lost its war against Ukraine,” even if the defeat has not been formally recognized. Nauseda characterized the aggression as a major threat to the global order and noted that Russia’s minimal territorial gains have come at the cost of over 400,000 soldiers killed or wounded. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-22: Lithuanian President Nauseda claims Russia has effectively lost war in Ukraine Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told the UN that Russia has effectively lost the war in Ukraine but refuses to admit defeat to avoid legal accountability and domestic unrest. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lithuanian-president-nauseda-claims-russia-has-effectively-lost-war-in-ukraine ### 2026-08-25: Ukraine’s UN representative claims Russia is losing the war Ukraine’s UN representative Andriy Melnyk told the Security Council that Russia is losing the war due to economic exhaustion, sanctions, and strategic Ukrainian strikes on infrastructure. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukraines-un-representative-claims-russia-is-losing-the-war --- Cite as: International assessments of Russian military failure in war. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/international-assessments-of-russian-military-failure-in-war