Putin has two objectives which interlock. First is to degrade/destroy Ukrainian resistance, particularly the Azov elements. Advances and withdrawals in some areas of Ukraine are intended to draw out Ukrainian forces, rather than seize and hold territory forever.
The other objective is territorial. To clean out Ukrainian resistance from Russian-speaking separatist areas and secure them indefinitely. And to retain Crimea as well.
From the Russian perspective the operation is a police action in a border area, not requiring mobilization of all forces. It was never designed to be a blitzkrieg across the entirety of Ukraine.
From the Russian perspective the operation is a police action in a border area, not requiring mobilization of all forces. It was never designed to be a blitzkrieg across the entirety of Ukraine.
LOL. That’s simple false. Putin himself has said Ukraine is an illigimate nation and should not exist. Of course now loyal Putinists will airbrush history to match the facts on the ground. Kyiv stands. Russia has lost and is reduced to being a nation of bandits who steal on an industrial scale.
They never had sufficient forces to invade in the first place. The RGF had only 280,000 professionals and the Naval Infantry only another 20,000.
All the rest are conscripts which are not bound to fight outside of Russia and can leave at anytime.
From the Russian perspective ... which was clouded by two false assumptions: that the ZSU would run away and that the civilians would be apathetic or supportive. Neither of which were true. This cost them 50% of their best troops in 5 weeks.
Pootie had one objective: to restore the old Kievan-Rus’ Empire; all other ‘objectives’ are just Kremlin propaganda.