'Inept' Russian tactics baffle military experts: Tank commanders allowed Ukrainians to ambush them by driving straight up a main road as analysts say they've lost enough armoured vehicles to equip the ENTIRE German army

Daily Mail ^ | 3/11/2022 | Chri Jewers

[oldvirginian]

Thanks.
I have neither political nor military experience. I have read a bit and listened to knowledgeable people when I could.

[Dr. Franklin]

Russia has 60,000 Ukrainian troops surrounded in Eastern Ukraine and is very close to securing the entire Eastern half of the country, which along with taking out military installations and airports, is its priority.

Putin has made no secret of his goal of taking all of Ukraine East of the Dnieper, which was a historical border between Poland and Russia. He even offered to partition Ukraine with Poland in 2008:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-poland-sikorski/polish-ex-minister-quoted-saying-putin-offered-to-divide-ukraine-with-poland-idUSKCN0I92A720141020

In comparison to the well reported stalled long convoy outside of Kiev, the Russians are advancing well in the South, but less so in the East. The naval support in the South was a large advantage, but will lesson further inland.

The Russians don't want to storm Kiev. They want to force Zelensky to surrender on their terms. This just another example of media bias disconnected from reality.

By expanding the fronts of attack, it forces Ukraine to spread its defenses. Every defender and weapons system used to defend Kiev is one less it has in the East and South. Russia may well be paying a terrible price for its attack, but it is clearly gaining territory. The question will be can it keep it?