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The more one looks at this, the clearer it becomes that Putin didn't lie about one thing: He really thought this was going to be a "Special military operation". Get some airborne troops into Kyiv, overrun the seat of government and send Zelensky running, declare Ukraine "liberated" and wait for the armored columns to arrive, 48 hours, tops. Install a "provisionary government" and present a fait accompli before the West could even blink. The troops back home for vodka and medals and parades within the week.
But keeping the Kyiv airport from falling immediately - even re-taking it once - the Ukrainian troops spoiled that plan. The Ukrainian air force remained operational. And the Russian armored columns took some rather severe losses, as did their logistical tail.
So now it's actual invasion, and that wasn't the plan. The Muscovites are feeling the squeeze while the fighting is still happening. And the war isn't popular in Russia.
Also, Russian generals aren't dumb. They have an army that's heavy on armor and artillery. They're facing defenders who are entrenching themselves in cities. Tanks hate cities. Artillery is not nearly the force multiplier it could be in cities. You need motivated, well-trained and well-equipped infantry. And Russia is by now pretty lacking on that front. Whereas the Ukrainians have shown themselves very, very motivated. It's an ugly grind ahead.
Good points, this looks like it will boil down to infantry and a fight on the ground as was the case in Vietnam, Afghanistan and others. Superior fire power doesn't always win against motivated fighters. I doubt the hearts of the Russian soldiers are in this war but we can be sure Ukraine is fighting for their lives.
Oh, we're back to the "This is purely a Special Military Operation to relieve the beleaguered people in the East"? Because a few posts up, it was about this:
Anyway, if the idea was to "liberate" the Eastern provinces, I feel obliged to point out that Russian troops have gone way past those. Did someone forget to order "Halt"?
Oh, there were definitely several, partly overlapping reasons for the invasion or whatever you want to call it.
Oh, there were definitely several, partly overlapping reasons for the invasion or whatever you want to call it.
There's only one real reason, the rest are lame excuses.
Putin misses the USSR, wants to stroke his ego by invading a sovereign nation that likes democracy western-style, looks to the west and the USA and NATO and the EU as role models not Putin and his cronies. This is all about Putin's diminished ego.
Unfortunately Putin don't give a crap how worthless it will be and how much the citizens will suffer. He will do whatever he wants to do.
Time to start selling wheelbarrows for their worthless Rubles. Except it will be tough for the Russians to afford them.
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