“The Russians have suffered huge casualties in men and material for minimal gains.”
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While Russia has sustained substantial casualties it has not been for “minimal gains”. Russia controls about 20 percent of the Ukraine. That is far from “minimal” by any definition.
Practically all of that 20% was captured in the first six months of the war. Since then the Russians have been struggling. It has taken them 11 months to advance 50 km towards Pokvrosk in a front that is no more than 30 km wide. Most of the rest of the front has been stagnant. And even here there has been a slacking of the advance in the last few weeks. Yes, for over two years the gains have been minimal and at great cost.
Best estimates are that Russia’s casualties are about 1/10 what Ukraine’s are. Still, that means about 100,000 dead Russians. That is double our Vietnam losses, so it’s a lot. And Ukraine has about 1 million dead. All for nothing. Nothing but the US determination to keep Russia as a scary boogeyman that could justify massive defense (offense) spending and enable the US to become the Boss of the World.