Russia - threadbanned users in OP

They're relying on alcoholics and retirees to get another 300,000, the country would be anarchy if they try to conscript many more (they also need people to work as well, this conflict will be a huge brain drain).

They could try running as one big group towards Kyiv in order to strangle Zelensky. Think of the rolling news coverage.

The Ardennes offensive was reversed because the huge Allied air force that had total air superiority was grounded for the first few days by bad weather, once the weather cleared, it was "clobberin' time." The Germans were also short of men, supplies - particularly petrol; the plan envisaged raiding American fuel dumps along the route of advance - and time because of Soviet advances in the east. None of these constraints apply to the Ukrainians, so while the attack will almost surely run out of steam at some point - unless the Russian army disintegrates completely first, which I wouldn't rule out completely, it's hard to see what the Russians are going to bounce back with.

Re “—— calls for escalation ——“. It may not be as simple as that. Are you not aware , in Ireland, when the opposition might continually argue that gov should be spending much more than it is in some sectors/ should be paying higher amounts on something, etc . But when the opposition gets in it does not do what in was shouting about when it was in opposition and the reason is a or b or c. If on,y we had the money., etc, etc.

so maybe those Ru saying Putin should escalate to nuclear are hoping that if he does that it will bring him down and his replacement might be a bit more pragmatic and start on the LONG ——————- —————————————————————————————————-, LONG , LONG ROAD to healing fences

If Putin decides to use those WMD , be it a nuclear strike or chemical weapons, he has been warned in no uncertain terms what the response will be and that is, he will not have any military worthy of the name. Navy and air force gone completely. as be any land based assets. His successor will want to be very stupid or crazy, to continue Putins mad vision, and invite further destruction on Russia. Plus, if it goes down to the wire like that, how would Russians themselves react? Revolt? or what?

600000-700000 people have already fled the country since the "partial" mobilisation was called.

Russia doesn't have modern gear for all of their current troops, any mobilised reserves will have even worse gear. Maybe they'll be able to form new units by next spring, but they won't be well equipped.

And Ukraine have reserves too,

They could try to mobilise all 140 million souls in the Russian Federation, but it would make no difference. Once Ukraine restores its territorial integrity, as it is well on the way to doing, no other force in the World will be able to take it again, not with ummatchable western weapons and technology.

It will become the hardest frontier on the planet, eclipsing the Korean peninsula and Ukraine's permanent reserve force will be in the millions, along with a rejuvenated Air Force as well as the very best in offensive and defensive missile technology.

Russia cannot match any of this, short of the dreaded nuclear attack and if that happens, all they do is sign their own literal and political death warrants and end the Russian Federation as an entity, forever.

Whirrrrr @&^%$....tk, tk, tk, clink - does not compute.

Oh look another there's a clique post

@Manic Moran what were the actual Total of Abrams tanks lost to enemy fire during the Iraq war, not including the 11 Lost to friendly fire and destroyed to prevent capture.

Don't be ridiculous, even Russia doesn't have enough vodka to enable such a scenario.

Ah come on now, World War Z was not a documentary film about Russia's invasion!

Well, one of the many reasons that Putin wants Ukraine is that it is apparently very wealthy in terms of mineral and gas / oil deposits, and not to mention its agricultural wealth. So, I guess that the Ukrainians will be more than happy to pay their way and I'd say that they will not forget their friends who supported them in their time of need. And of course, Russia will owe them (Ukraine) stratospherical amounts in reparation.

Especially when the man who has his hands on the levers of power sees himself as being the Tsar of all the Russia's.

What are you talking about? Nuclear's always been an option, just a pants on head stupid one and non-viable.