Russia’s shrinking empire: How Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine has made Moscow a vassal state of Beijing

When Russian troops crossed into Ukraine in February 2022, Vladimir Putin declared the moment would reshape the world order.

The brutal dictator cast the invasion as an assertion of national strength — a stand against Western dominance and a bid to restore Moscow’s stature as a global power. Nearly four years later, that ambition has continued to backfire.

Russia’s war has drained its economy, depleted its military, and forced it into an uneasy dependency on China, transforming what once was a strategic partnership into a relationship of subordination.

Beijing now stands as Moscow’s economic lifeline, diplomatic shield, and technological supplier. In return, Russia provides cheap energy, discounted raw materials, and geopolitical obedience. The shift has created an inversion of the Cold