https://bigserge.substack.com/p/special-military-operation-season?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
This was not an operational trap by Russia, but neither was it a victory in battle for Ukraine - for the simple reason that there was not much of a battle at all. Russia had already hollowed out these positions, and withdrew the remaining screening forces very quickly. Ukraine covered a lot of ground, but were unable to destroy any Russian units, because there really weren’t any there.
It would be silly to try to talk the Ukrainian side out of their excitement right now. Credit where credit is due, they did manage to put together a good sized shock group, aim it at a weak portion of the front, and regain a good bit of ground. Considering the abject lack of successes for Ukraine in this war, they are rightfully trying to eke every last bit of morale and propaganda out of this.
I do not, however, believe that the territorial losses in Kharkov in any way change the ultimate calculus of the war. Russia hollowed out this front and surrendered ground, but they were able to maul the Ukrainian forces as they advanced with relentless artillery and airstrikes. Ukrainian channels widely report overflowing hospitals. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed 4,000 killed and 8,000 wounded for Ukraine during their advance - I believe this is high, but even if we reduce the numbers by 50% (leaving us with 6,000 total casualties, reasonable given how much ordnance Russia discharged) it is very clear that the loss ratios in this operation were stacked badly against Ukraine, as they always are.
Just to give you something to think about our kazan-based putinista
14th Dec 2021 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4021188/posts?page=18#18
There is zero reason to believe Russia is going to invade any nation and take it over against its wil
13th Jan 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4029166/posts?page=8#8
Nonsense. There is no evidence Putin has any plans to invade and takeover countries against their will.
21st Jan 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4031420/posts?page=48#48
The claim Russia is going to invade Ukraine has been nothing but propaganda from the start.
21st Jan 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4031420/posts?page=49#49
Russia is not going to wage a brutal war with Ukraine. It’s been a lie from the start
24th Jan 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4032190/posts?page=28#28
Putin is assuring us he has no further territorial ambitions in Europe beyond this one little slice of Ukraine heavily populated by Russians
I have no doubt that’s true. There is no way Putin wants to fight a bloody war with Ukraine. He’d perfectly happy with water flow being restored to Crimea and sanctions to be removed from the Nord 2 pipeline.
28th Jan 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4033434/posts?page=22#22
The Russian invasion narrative is as fake as the Russian collusion narrative was
4th Feb 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4035208/posts?page=58#58
The Russian invasion narrative is as fake as the Russian collusion narrative was
19th Feb 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4039582/posts?page=112#112
You think Russia wants to invade nations in Eastern Europe and take them over against their will?
Why would he want to fight a series of bloody wars when Russia already has a declining population? Why would anyone think younger Russians, who are already complaining about mandatory military service, tolerate that? Why would he risk doing that and losing the ability to sell oil to Germany through the Nord 2 pipeline.
These kind of comments are ignorant. It’s 2022, not 1982.
19th Feb 2022 https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4039720/posts?page=29#29
So, given that, why would anyone in their right mind believe that Putin wants to start wars in Eastern Europe and take countries over against their will as millions of young Russians died in war?
22nd Feb https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4040557/posts?page=31#31
I’d rather see Russia annex Ukraine (which is has no desire to do) than see $5 a gallon gasoline.