“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!
Again, you showing totally clueless about what is going on in this war.
1) Russia a massive advantage in both ammo and missiles. So, Russia can kill Ukrainians from distance that doesn't endanger their troops.
2) The vast majority of the urban warfare that have taken place that have resulted in the most causalities on the Russian side were fought by the LPR, DPR, Chechens and Wagner group. So, those groups, not the regular Russian military suffered the causalities.
Ukraine has suffered more than five times as many causalities and are running out of soldiers. The average age of the Ukraine soldier is now 43. Women have been forced the frontlines.
Ukraine has absolutely no chance of gaining back any lost territory. It can only lose more territory.