Putin may have wanted to restore the Russian Empire, but his power over former Soviet states is waning as his invasion of Ukraine flounders

When Putin launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine in February, experts said he was expecting a swift victory that could lead to the restoration of the Russian Empire or the USSR.

Putin's power over the post-Soviet region may not be as strong as it was seven months ago.

The lack of Russian leadership in Central Asia and the Caucasus, which spans between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, has led to violent border clashes and frustration from Putin's allies in the region.

According to Taras Kuzio, a professor of political science at the National University of Kyiv, since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has maintained its influence over post-Soviet states.

Kuzio wrote in a piece for the Atlantic Council thatMoscow never accepted the verdict of 1991 and has always sought to retain its imperial influence throughout the former USSR.

The desire for the West to stay out of the former Soviet Union has been obvious. The expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was one of the reasons why Putin invaded. He doesn't want Ukraine to join the alliance.

According to experts, Putin was driven by a deeper desire to restore the historic Russian Empire, which predated the Soviet Union and included other nations.

Evidence of Russia's decline can be seen in the post-Soviet world. The shortage of manpower on the frontlines in Ukraine makes a mockery of attempts to portray Russia as the world's number two military power.

Both members of a military alliance with Putin have been involved in a border conflict. According to The Times, Sadyr Japarov said that they are distracted by Ukraine.

Armenia, a member of the military alliance, has also been the target of attacks by Azerbaijan.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is made up of six post-Soviet states and has been propped up by Putin. According to The Times, the alliance is at risk due to the anger of the Prime Minister of Armenia, who is threatening to leave the alliance.

In order to make up for major losses, Russia has had to withdraw forces stationed in some post-Soviet states to move them to the frontlines in Ukraine.

There is an opening for other states to step in due to the lack of Kremlin leadership.

Russia's military setbacks in Ukraine and economic isolation from the Western world have confirmed its status as China's junior partner.

Russia's relationship with powerful partners is uncertain after the leaders of China and India publicly acknowledged concerns about the war in Ukraine.

Russia has suffered many humiliations since the war began, such as the explosion on the bridge connecting the peninsula to the mainland.

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