General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPutin is probably hoping taking Kyiv will show some momentum but from what I have read
Russia is running out of military resources to throw into this War. Attacking a country the size of Texas with 40 million people and holding it is pretty much impossible. As they expand further in they leave smaller groups of troops holding key areas vulnerable and the logistics get even harder. They can't even handle the logistics near the border muchless deep into the country. Things have already stalled pretty badly and in a few weeks Ukraine could be pushing them back and retake Kyiv, if they ever take it at all. When this occurs and the Zelinski Gov. is still in power the pressure for Russia to cut their losses is going to be extreme! I think that is when Putin may realize he is out of options. Hopefully, he doesn't do anything really stupid at that point.
Another possibility is they never take Kyiv and Ukraine starts to push back the frontlines in a few weeks. If geographical momentum seems to be switching in Ukraine's favor, again pressure on Putin will be probably too strong for the war to continue. Putin may then threaten nuclear weapon use in Ukraine unless they give him perhaps the breakaway regions. He will want something out of this. I can't see him walking away completely empty handed.
underpants
(182,283 posts)They love artillery. It shows punishment.
PortTack
(32,606 posts)Rocket and artillery equipment
AlexSFCA
(6,137 posts)My understanding is that this tactic worked in Chechnya, Syria and maybe Georgia?
this probably can only be done via air bombardment
BeyondGeography
(39,284 posts)The more he complains about US, NATO, EU, Nazis, etc., the worse hes doing IMO.
Since were now conspiring to develop chemical weapons with Ukraine, I take that as a positive indicator.
PortTack
(32,606 posts)luv2fly
(2,475 posts)I had not heard this, do you have a link?
BeyondGeography
(39,284 posts)Walleye
(30,727 posts)He wants to copycat our invasion of Iraq to divide the American public.I dont wanna hear anymore whataboutism from Americans about what we have done in the past. Defending Ukraine from Putin is the task of all free countries now.
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Texaswitchy
(2,962 posts)He needs to save face.
Lovie777
(11,992 posts)Walleye
(30,727 posts)Its not gonna look like much of a victory if he destroys Kyiv. And kills half the civilians
Turbineguy
(37,212 posts)The Russians badly miscalculated. Putin is probably looking for somebody to hang this on, and blaming the Ukrainians isn't working.
Maybe he can keep the Donbass region. The West can give all the locked-up Russian gold to Ukraine for reconstruction and some commanders can get tried for war crimes.
ProfessorGAC
(64,427 posts)...both current & potential, Russia could not sustain an occupation.
The economy is too small & extremely low per capita. (As one data point, the GDP of California is almost twice that of Russia, with around 2/7ths of the people.)
I think there is already sand in the gears because the takeover needed to be quick & complete. It is neither. They were hoping it would not cost a lot a be a fait accompli before the world reacted. A significant miscalculation on their part.
Now, add the impact of frozen assets, business loss & potential embargo of oil & gas. It's likely a crushing economic blow.
And, any resources obtained in Ukraine aren't sufficient to damn the outflow.
Russia is already in deep economic trouble.
Chainfire
(17,308 posts)Perhaps they started believing their own propaganda.
Wingus Dingus
(8,049 posts)by NATO/US or other countries' battleground experts. Where to direct their firepower, what to hit, where to put roadblocks, best ways to use their limited resources, etc. I know we are helping them already to an extent, but the shit is hitting the fan.
NickB79
(19,114 posts)If anything, indiscriminate bombing and door to door gun battles will get more countries and corporations to enact sanctions.
The deeper he goes, the worst it gets for the Russian economy.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)Putler will never take it.
That will be the base from which Ukrainians push eastward and retake their country, as they Russian economy goes to shit.
They should then keep going into Russia and link up with Georgia and Azerbaijan.