Ukraine! (Title too short or invalid)

Russian advances (and retreats)
since February 24

Today (18 June) the lines stand in much the same place -- small Russian gains have taken place but they would be imperceptible on this map scale.

Russia is losing this conflict and has been since the end of the first week. It's stated goals when entering Ukraine were two-fold:

1) Denazification of Ukraine, a country with a democratically elected Jewish president.

2) Demilitarization of Ukraine, a country that had one of the smallest and oldest armies in Europe (that was then; today Ukraine has one of the best equipped armies in Europe and is growing stronger every day).

Those were the stated goals, but Russia's authoritarian leader has written much in recent years about Ukraine. He claims all of Ukraine for Russia and denies Ukraine's right to exist. He seeks to rebuild the Russian empire to the former Soviet borders. And he likens himself to Peter the Great, a cruel and tyrannical dictator.

Russia is losing this conflict and for all of Europe it needs to lose this conflict. As goes Ukraine, so will go Eastern Europe.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M

Closing that gap is big, but it’s a long line to maintain, and quite a salient in the north. Add the advantage of defense and you’ve got quite the stalemate.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@Fukfacewillie Far from a stalemate. Ukrainian forces are slowly ceding land but exacting an enormous price per meter. At this point, Russia will be bankrupt and without an army to defend Moscow by the time they succeed in taking Donbass.

Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M

@sarabee1995 Unfortunately, China and India are buying a lot of Russian oil. Given its preferred method of warfare are artillery strikes against civilians, it seems they could carry on for some time.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@Fukfacewillie And yet, not indefinitely. And they are firing Soviet-era "dumb" artillery while Ukraine is now operating modern artillery systems that can reverse the trajectory of an artillery shell and target it's source faster than it can move.

Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M

@sarabee1995 My fear is that once Biden gets his ass handed to him Trump pulls support as the neo-fascists feel it’s safe to be outwardly pro-Putin again.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@Fukfacewillie Neither of them should run again. They are both too old and yesterday's (sad) news.