Srinagar, Nov. 21 -- Despite widespread expectations of a swift Russian victory when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict soon defied early predictions. Ukraine's unexpected resilience on the battlefield shifted assumptions, leading many analysts to argue that Russia's campaign would eventually collapse under the strain of its own strategic missteps. Sanctions were expected to cripple the Russian economy, public discontent to grow, and political pressures to mount until Russia was compelled to scale back its ambitions. Yet, more than nearing four years on, Russia has demonstrated a capacity to absorb shocks, adapt, and sustain its war effort in ways that few anticipated.Over three years, those predictions have ...