Not to be argumentative, but haven’t they been getting poked for nearly a year?
I read a lot of comments at the link given for this post. Here is a particularly interesting one apparently written by a former Russian soldier:
“A lot has happened in the last few hours. As well as the two airbases the central shopping area in St Petersberg has caught fire, the meat processing plant which supplies the western Russian Army with its ration pack meat is on fire. Ukrainian troops have been seen in the outskirts of Mariupol. From information that I have the reason that the Russian troops are constantly going forward in the Bakhmut area is that they have no food left and have no alternative but to go forward. Also I’ve been asked to go back into the Russian army, err no you sacked me last year for telling you that a war in Ukraine would be fatal for Russia. So thank you for the offer I will remain in Perm along with everyone else who got sacked last November.”
A number of comments expressed hopes the Kerch Bridge would be taken out. I think this is a bad idea. The bridge is damaged enough now that only two lanes of light road traffic, one lane in each direction appears to be operational. Also only one rail line is operational. It may only be good for passenger travel, not heavy military. A lot of heavy stuff is being carried by large ferries (600 autos), which is a much slower process. Entry to Crimea from the north near Mariupol has been used, but is now a target of Ukraine army planning and action. Ukraine really does not want to be responsible for the 2 million people recently in Crimea, when the water can only supply 800,000 at times. Leave the bridge for them to evacuate themselves and burden Russia with their care. Occasiional attacks on the bridge with light weapons will keep everyone nervous and moving away, without depriving Ukraine of this bridge when they win.
In peacetime Ukraine can make money from Russian beach tourists. It might even be possibly to rent space at Sevastapol for Russian commercial shipping with careful inspection that weapons are not shipped in or out, and similar inspections at the bridge. These could be useful suggestions at peace negotiations.