Russia - threadbanned users in OP

The Ukrainian military doctrine is not the Russian one. The Russian military doctrine is to throw expendable grunts at the guns until the enemy runs out of ammo and incrementally take ground. This is how they took Bakhmut via Wagner telling prisoners to go to the front. Avdiivka the same kind of idea. Ukraine, by necessity, has to be more conservative and are currently trying a more asymmetrical approach to hit Russian supply lines and defend in depth. It's not quite a case of sending their young to a guaranteed death, though this is not to understate the inherently dangerous nature of war.

Ultimately, if young Ukrainians do not want to fight, that should be their choice to leave, and if they were to, say, vote out Zelenskyy for someone with a more conciliatory mindset toward Russia, that would be their choice, too, obviously. If they're willing to live with whatever that brings over continuing to fight, then I can't really say anything but OK. It's up to them, either way.

I like your use of the word "RAM" through, very Putin like, because it's what he does all the time. Zelenski brought a proposal to government to increase the scope of mobilisation, and it was passed. And it's now the law of the land. I take it that you obey the laws of the Country you live in. Democracy in action. Unlike Putin who dictates, no discussion, because that's what dictators do.

may be of interest to some

https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/30272

This war is annoying me more and more. If Ukraine gets the aid it needs I have no doubt how this goes. The west is literally giving Putin a shot at winning when we could deal with the fcucker for what in GDP terms is a fairly small amount. Russian losses of equipment and men is massive, they simply cannot sustain it if we just give Ukraine what they need to hold the line and even make a few gains.

Yeah makes sense for Ukraine to have their AA closer to the frontlines but like that Russia are hitting rear high value energy targets to force Ukraine to move these back and if they do then that gives Russia an advantage at the front lines as they can use their fighter planes etc. more freely then near the from lines, it's a vicious circle Ukraine are in at the moment regarding this. There is definitely gaps appearing in the Ukrainian air defense where Russia are getting through (could say the same I suppose about Russia as there getting hit by drones in their territory but I just think it's different).

3rd time lucky? Let's hope so, they're saying first half of 2024, which gives them three more months:

I wouldn't be surprised if Russia launched an attack to take Kharkiv.

Yip - i am anecdotally seeing on soc media ( no MSM mentioning it yet ) that there is a large uptick in citizens getting out of dodge leaving Kharkiv. Unfortunately its pretty much on the Russia border and has a population of about 1.5m. All these people will start moving west, so over the summer i would not be surprised seeing a further refugee flow into rest of Europe similar to post Feb 2022.

in general it is a numbers game. Ukraine has a population of 40m approx, Russia has a pop of 145m approx. russia has an authoritarian regime so less options to avoid getting dumped to the front line. Re population + lets use the word zero empathy for human life, just math & lack of value for life says russia is way ahead here. From reading up on Ukraine last good while it seems the majority of those fighting on the front lines have been doing so for the last two years without much break or replacement. Thats simply unsustainable. This summer is make or break - make for Russia, unfortunately big break for Ukraine :(

Also lets face it - Russia getting endless weapons supply from like minded allies + west STILL using & paying for much of Russia's oil etc. Ukraine NOT getting endless weapons supply from its "allies" 9 the west ) and also being hampered by the wests rules of DO NOT hit or attack Russia with western weapons etc

All this is leading me to conclude, when you factor in above - this was always doomed to fail for Ukraine. Unless the west / Ukraines partners step up like they havent done before, and even at that they might achive just holding the line. Manpower is the thing I think and the west / nato will not be supplying that in theatre

At the outset of the war if anyone predicted that Russia would lose all the manpower and equipment that they have no on would believe it. All the planes, helicopters, ships of all things, on top of catastrophic quantities of artillery shells and equipment, tanks etc.

Indeed if at the outset you said Russia would expend all that they have, people would be saying they would be in Warsaw now, not just Kiev. What Ukraine have achieved to date is incredible. Shame on the western world for their lack of support.

This war is so important, defeating Putin is so important, he is the figure head and facilitator for dictatorships around the world. I know that it's possible the US and NATO fear a broken up Russia with nuclear warheads in the hands of various factions, and maybe that forms part of the doctrine of support for defence rather than attack.

Overall we are watching a sea change in the shaping of world power and alliances. Alternative facilities and in the longer term renewables have and will reduce the power element of many nations including Russia. Would we have believed that Europe would be fine for two winters without Russian gas and oil? Europe will never again be dependant on Russian energy.

Sumy