It's been more than 1,000 days since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, with both sides showing no sign of giving up. Ukraine is struggling to hold back the Russian advance and is heavily reliant on Western military support. Russia's battlefield tactics have been heavily reliant on wave upon wave of infantry attacks, resulting in growing Ukrainian casualties. Russia is pushing hard to optimise its negotiating position should the forthcoming change of US administration offer the prospects for some form of peace talks in the new year. The conflict is placing immense strain on the Ukrainian frontline, but whether this pressure is reaching a critical level is not easy to judge at this stage.