I just don't get it? Russia can't even take this country let alone hold it? This has all the makings of a very bad situation for Russia in the end?
This is correct. But they have no choice unless they want to admit that they've been lying crooks since Putin came to power...
But that will be in the future. Not right now. Their goal now is just to extract as much as they can, while holding onto power as long as they can. And hope it will all work out in the end. Anybody who gets cold feet or doesn't go along with it wakes up dead. Very similar to China. Only China doesn't have the natural resources to support their population the way Russia does.
The thing I worry about is how dangerous will a loser be that has chemical, biological and nuclear weapons?
Yeah they have to take Putin completely out of the picture. Might be hard to do? Some say he is the wealthiest man in the world?
This is definitely the highest daily number of orcs killed since February-March. Also 32 artillery systems, 5 MLRS, 3 air defense systems and throw in 2 warplanes and 2 helicopters!
I love this guy's graphics. In the north by Kharkiv, Ukraine has advanced 70 km and is aiming for a highway junction that may cut off supplies to the large russian base in Izium. Have recaptured 20 towns and about 700 square km.
Day 198. Ukrainian forces liberated more than 1,000 sq km of Ukraine’s territory since the beginning of September and more than 20 settlements in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine army takes control of Balakliya. In Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian brigades continue to conduct offensive operations. Pro-Ukrainian leaflets, yellow ribbons appear in Crimea cities. Based on the last estimates, damage caused to Ukraine’s infrastructure during the war is $114.5 bln. Blinken visits Ukraine and says the US to support Ukraine as long as it takes to restore sovereignty. Pentagon announces weapons included in new security assistance package for Ukraine.
Reported to be about 25,000 russian troops in Izium, which appears to be almost completely cut off. Just a reminder. Tw major offensives; Kherson in the south, this is Kharkiv in the north.
russians are pretty much on the run everywhere in the north.. Ukraine has taken Kupiansk. russian have abandoned Izium. which was the large city holding high ground that this entire offensive was meant to cut off. Ukraine has also advanced north of Kharkiv all the way to the russian border. They pretty much control the entire territory west of the river. They just need to mop up remnants of russian forces there. This map shows some of it.
Ukraine is also gaining territory in the south by Kherson. And in the center pushing against a large city , Lychansk that they abandoned a couple months ago. russians report that they left huge amounts of artillery ammunition in Izium, which is sorely needed by Ukraine as the vast majority of their artillery is old soviet stuff.
Also have seen some confirmation that Ukraine's estimates of over 50,000 russian dead is not exaggerated. A guy analyzed a russian document on payouts to relatives of dead soldiers, and just by dividing the total by the amount given for each soldier, reached a figure of about 49,000. And I'm sure it wasn't up to date.
The summary I usually post looks old so I'll just post my own blurb: Ukraine has retaken the entire Kharkiv oblast (region) and also retaken a couple village south by Kherson. I should add that part of the reason for tzaking Kharkiv region is to cut off supplies to russian center,and attack russian forces on their flank. russia has retaliated by attacking a hydroelectric plan and large regions of Ukraine were without electricity. They are working to restore. Many local deputies (20+ total) are calling for resignation of Putin. Most significant for me is that [people are losing their fear of him.
