Russia simply choose kill Ukraine’s military with firepower while building up their military. It has taken from 2022 to mid-2024 for Russia to match the massive q.2m Ukraine army. Russia has bleed them in their bunkers, which as of this week, have finally been taken. It was slow murderous kill zone work of necessity.
Ukraine lasted this long ecause the goal is destruction of the Ukrainian military before occupation and Uke defeat.
NATO is going to swallow a bitter pill economically on the road to seeing total Uke surrender.
Satellite images show a dramatic reduction in Russian military equipment, both in the field and in reserve. At this point Russia couldn't defend itself with conventional weapons from any other adversary, let alone NATO.