I do agree with you on the common needs for an invasion force, Putin probably didn’t have good information to begin with. His generals lied to him about the status of the troops and their equipment.
Putin also thought there was a larger support network in country than there actually was.
And there is no location in Ukraine which is that far from Russia proper. So the supply chains are not really that long. It’s getting past the really bad roads that Ukraine has because of years of government corruption. Once the dry season comes in May, the fields will be drivable by tanks.
there is also the fact that the vast majority of Ukrainian troops are situated against the Russian forces and they are steadily being surrounded and cut off from supply lines from the west. That is going to be the real end of the war.
And there is no location in Ukraine which is that far from Russia proper. So the supply chains are not really that long.
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Russia doesn’t have the logistics supply chain to go from the East Texas border to El Paso with trucks, tanks or troops.
Ukraine is ruffly the size of Texas.
Tanks don’t run without fuel. Fuel does not get to tanks without trucks. Trucks don’t run without tires and roads and even more fuel. The roads must be protected. That requires lots of troops and control of the air. Manpads are taking out the close air cover and Javelins are taking out trucks and armored vehicles by the gross. How much is victory going to cost? My guess is too much to be worth it. Putin of course may not see it the same way, but he is spending political capital like there is no tomorrow and I doubt there is a payoff in the end.
As for the Ukrainians I doubt there is any reintegrating them into a Russian Empire Putin gravely miscalculated and that will have political costs. Without an ideology to fall back on failure sticks to the leader like spots on a hog. People can feel good about failing miserably for a “glorious cause” like socialism. It can justify all the pain, but failing miserably for Putin’s imperial ambitions...not so much.