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Lead: For the first time since the Napoleonic and World War II eras, Russian territory far beyond the Urals is feeling the direct impact of Ukraine’s counter‑offensive, as drones strike Yekaterinburg and other western cities, sparking shortages, panic buying and a renewed call for peace talks from President Vladimir Putin.Ukrainian Drones Reach the Urals, Signaling a New Phase of the ConflictIn late April 2026, a swarm of Ukrainian drones attacked Yekaterinburg, the administrative capital of the Urals, located more than 1,800 km (1,118 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The operation aimed at a plant producing air‑defence components and has forced the Yekaterinburg airport to close repeatedly, disrupting regional logistics and heightening civilian fear.Multiple airport shutdowns since the first strikeLocal business owners report soaring food prices and long queues at gas stationsResidents are stockpiling supplies amid fears of a broader economic collapseEconomic Strain Evident in Russian CitiesInterviews with small‑business owners like Anatoly, a 45‑year‑old entrepreneur in Yekaterinburg, reveal a grim picture: “Prices are growing, shops are closing down, there are lines at gas stations, and they don’t pour the gas in canisters to avoid resale at higher prices.”Similar shortages are reported in Moscow, where “oil rains” and toxic fumes followed a major refinery drone strike in mid‑June, prompting residents to flee to the countryside.Shifting Russian Public Sentiment and Military StalemateAnalysts such as Nikolay Mitrokhin (Bremen University) and exiled activist Sergey Biziykin note that the Russian war machine is losing momentum. The summer offensive in Donbas has stalled, and the Russian army faces “structural exhaustion” according to a joint report by Sweden’s Kiel Institute and the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.Public fatigue is evident: “In Russia, the pain threshold is too high. People can be against the war but will suffer everything patiently,” says Biziykin, highlighting a growing disconnect between the Kremlin’s rhetoric and everyday hardships.Prospects for Peace Talks and Future Conflict TrajectoryPresident Putin declared on Tuesday, 25 June 2026 that Russia is “ready for peace talks with Ukraine on the basis of the Istanbul agreements” from 2022. However, experts argue the move is more about buying time than a genuine diplomatic breakthrough.If Russian supply lines continue to be disrupted by Ukrainian drones, the war’s economic endgame may accelerate, potentially forcing a strategic retreat from contested territories. Conversely, Kyiv’s willingness to negotiate remains uncertain, given Moscow’s demanding “de‑Nazification” and demilitarisation conditions.