The answer is obvious to anyone with half a brain -- taking Odessa will cost Russian lives.
Unlike Zelensky, Putin gives a damn about his troops and wants to minimize the loss of life.
Compare that to Ukraine, which has rounded up conscripts, sent them to frontlines ill-prepared to be cannon fodder. Lives are irrelevant to Zelenksy and us and NATO, which couldn't give a hoot about Ukraine or Ukrainians.
“The answer is obvious to anyone with half a brain
taking Odessa will cost Russian lives”
Well you dont think “grinding down Ukraine” costs Russian lives? Seems to me just dicking around and losing lives is far more costly then just going on the offensive with the massive advantage Russia has. Especially since Ukraine has only old men and women in their way and no more ammo. You only need quarter brain to see that!