Welcome to Hard Talk from the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest in this interview

recorded on the 30th of October is one of the highest profile defenders of his country's cause

in a deeply sceptical Western world. It's a diplomatic assignment to which the Russian ambassador

in London, Andrei Kellen,

brings long experience. He is a career Foreign Service officer whose London posting began

shortly before Vladimir Putin launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 22.

We're now deep into the third year of the ensuing war, a war which has

inflicted punishing military casualties on both sides and inflicted terrible damage on Ukraine

and its civilian population. Crucially, the Kremlin has not been able to impose its will on Kiev. Instead,

Russian gains in the east are coming at a terrible cost, and Ukraine has launched its own

counter-incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. So how does this conflict end? Well, Vladimir Putin seems prepared to play the long

game, eager to see the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, and seemingly convinced that

Western backing for Ukraine will rapidly wane. Are the Russians right to believe that time is on their side? Well, Ambassador Andre

Kellyn joins me now. Welcome to Hard Talk. Ambassador, has Russia's all-out war on Ukraine

been a success? This is not all-out war. It has started as an operation, a limited operation. Right now it is

a larger, but I cannot say compare it with great patriotic war or with something like that.

About the current situation, I can say that we are making very serious successes, especially

in the south of Donbass.

As an example, I can say that in the recent days, we have done not tactical advantages,

but already kind of operational advantages over there.

Seizing villages, towns in 72 hours, seven of this settlement has been seized and we continue to move further.

Your answer tells me quite clearly it hasn't been a success. You're talking about taking

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