The other side is confirming Kiev retook the towns NW of Kiev, loss of a key highway they had blocked before, and say they withdrew to at least 130km east of Ukraine so far.
There has been a very large movement for a week, they seem to be regrouping for something in the east.
To what degree they were forced out versus “we meant to do that!” I have no idea. Maybe bit off more than they could chew, probably big logistic problems
The other side is confirming Kiev retook the towns NW of Kiev, loss of a key highway they had blocked before, and say they withdrew to at least 130km east of Ukraine so far.
***Got a link?
At any rate, this all fits within the obvious framework that Pootypoot simply wants to take their oil & gas.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4050958/posts
He can withdraw well to the east of Kieyyyeeev, and keep what he wants. It’s a combination of splitting Ukraine in half along that river, and controlling the oil&gas regions.
The majority of the Ukrainian army is pinned down on the Donbass front in the east.
They can't disengage [under fire, and limited fuel supplies].
The Russians apparently threatened the capital in order to keep the Uke army in the east from being reinforced.