Just connecting the dots … the more concerning news is Ukraine has been attacking targets in Russia. It’s not that I blame them, I would too if I were a Ukrainian general. But here are some needed facts and context as warmongers in the U.S. ramp up their rhetoric and march to direct involvement of U.S. troops. Russia has 300k troops held in reserve. Russia has well established supply lines to the battlefield in Ukraine. Ukraine has already attacked targets on Russian soil. If the U.S. enters the war our generals will attack Russian supply lines and troops in Russia. We won’t be fighting some pissant Afghani or Iraqi force. Russia will attack America troops and weapons manufacturing facilities on U.S. soil. They have that capability and will use it.
Every time Ukraine sends an attack into Russia, it supports Putin’s position that the entire military and political regime of Ukraine must be destroyed and replaced, not just in the eastern oblasts
Thus far Putin still seems to believe the Ukes themselves will have to upend their corrupt hate-driven ultranationalist infliltrated govt, and refrains from flattening Kiev
The purpose of these weapons are:
- Isolate the battlefield, specifically the Zaporozhia-Kherson regions held by Russia. And the Crimea too, if possible.
- Make Russia abandon airfields within weapons range. This will hamper Russian use of its aerial superiority, and maybe also hamper its cruise missile attacks.
- Make political difficulties for the Russian leadership.
I think the Ukrainians are perfectly capable of taking back everything west of Melitopol, given the geography and their ability to isolate this region. After that, it is more questionable.
And given that the Russians seem to have already thrown their final reserve, the elite VDV, into the trench lines at Robotyne, I doubt very much that they have a strategic reserve available.