Ukraine (Mod Note & Threadbanned Users in OP)

Neither side is really "winning". Russia's goal was (quite plainly) the collapse of the entire country. That didn't happen, so they have been forced to keep downsizing their objectives to what they are now. This is the third or fourth iteration of their pincer movement on the East, each smaller than the last.

Putin hasn't so declared war yet for numerous reasons. It has benefits but also drawbacks. Likewise it's not a magic button for manpower, Russia seems to be contending with serious morale issues and infighting. Ukraine isn't without it's issues either, especially in terms of equipment and supplies.

I expect Russia to keep making gains in the East for now, but I definitely think time is against them. They are bringing up T64's and throwing Wagner mercenaries at the front, not a good sign. They are also having problems in e.g. Kherson where the Ukrainians have liberated around 20 settlements recently.

"DeNazification" was never a goal, likewise preventing some fictitious genocide, those were just emotive pieces of propaganda to generate support for an invasion that was going to happen regardless.

I also think we might see some surprises from Russia, such as a massing up North for something or nothing (if they can spare it) to tie up defenders.

That's not explicitly true though. We are inferring Russia's goals. There have only been general statements from Putin such as the De-Nazification.

It wouldn't make sense that they made a lightning attack on Kyiv, brought riot police with them, dug in to Chernobyl, booked Kyiv restaurants and wheeled out Yanukovych to install as new leader in Ukraine because they "only" wanted just to take Donbas and portions of the South.

Like Hungary, Czechoslovakia and most recently Afghanistan it's very likely they expected Ukraine to fall quickly. In fact, most analysts expected the same. Putin has boasted in the past he could take Ukraine in 2 weeks. Didn't happen, and now they are on, I don't know what now, plan D or E or something.

I broadly agree except for the goal of controlling grain - a number of reasons that ukraine either as far as dnieper, or as far as the carpathians is a target for Russia.

Firstly, defence. Much easier to defend a geographical border like a large river or mountain range, than a mostly large open plain.

Secondly, control of sea of azov (ideally they would have had the whole Ukraine cost & control of black sea)

Third the crimean canal, without it crimea was near useless having insufficient fresh water. The land bridge also to DPR and Russia also ties into #2

4th priority would be the resources - oil & gas being the most prominent. Black sea fields and east Ukraine fields of gas are quite large, mineral wealth in Donbas also, controlling grain would be well down the list.

So you think it didn't occur? Rape by Russian soldiers. And it's important to get this clarified?

I fail to see any importance.

Can you post a link to the document rather than the document itself. I’d be very wary of download an unsourced a pdf posted by you for security reasons

I have friends that left Ukraine just before the population ousting the Russian puppet. They left because of the Russian puppet destroying the state and making life very difficult for ordinary people. I’m guessing that your pdf is from Russian sources due to your support for the war criminal regime there.

“We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, but they are still lying.” - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

All that one needs to know about the Russian regime (any - Tzarist, Leninist, Stalinist, post-Stalinist, Putinist).

Nothing "official" Russian sources say is ever true. Anyone who supports here the Russian propaganda is directly supporting genocidal backward primitive inhumane regime and is a traitor.

The Seanead declares Russian invasion a genocide and joins several Central and Eastern European countries + Canada to do so 👍🏻

Did the occupying force not bus out of Crimea Some of the population for a ‘holiday ‘ until the referendum was over!!!!!!!!

any opinion on Khrushchev’s 1954 referendum DJ?

As the Ukrainians predicted for years, Russia is there to colonise them.

Implementing any Treaty or agreement made with the criminal russian regime would simply be a complete and total waste of time. The russian regime is wholly untrustworthy; they are liars through and through.

Looks like the Ukrainians have taken possession of around 50% of Severodonetsk according to latest social media reports tonight. Things definitely not going quite the way the Russians planned - their media assumed up until yesterday the city was about to fall to Russian forces at any moment.