Following a “worst week of the war” for Russia—marked by Ukraine’s devastating “Operation Spiderweb” drone strike on bomber bases, an attack on the Kerch Bridge, and other infrastructure collapses—Vladimir Putin faces a dilemma on how to retaliate.

A large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine – the only concrete outcome of peace talks – was thrown into doubt on Saturday local time after Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of delaying and thwarting the swap.