This is the long term problem for Russia. They got bogged down in Afghanistan for years and had to withdraw without achieving any of their long term military objectives, and at great cost to their economy, which arguably has not recovered even yet.
They are stumbling from one blunder to another and long term their goals don’t look sustainable or even attainable. The Ukrainians will dig in and won’t buckle.
They would be very unsuccessful at that.
Zero penguins in the Artic (sic).
edit: Time zone differences meant I was late to the party again.
Not sure if these generals have been added to the list of highly ranked KIA , Gen Dennis Mezhuev, 1st motor rifle commandant, killed onboard Moskva, and Gen Oleg Mityaev, 150th Motor Rifle ( I think we call them armoured divisions)
This takes to 40 the list of generals and senior ranks KIA in Ukraine.
Clearly there is a healthy career path in the Russian army for young officers at the moment but its a very risky occupation.
If it was just zero, I would have merely been exaggerating.
But it has already been established that I had my poles wildly confused.
I wonder how many Generals were on board the Moskva. Maybe more than 1 since it was a command centre.
If a number of their generals were killed on the ship. Its a massive setback for Russia. / Putin.
It might take time for this to come out, but so far 1 general and a rumour the admiral commanding the Moskva also were killed.
What I mean," said Ford, “is does it give you a full satisfying life? Stomping around, shouting, pushing people out of spaceships …”
…
… good career for a young Vogon – you know, the uniform, the low-slung stun ray holster, the mindless tedium …"
…
Resistance is useless," bellowed the guard, and then added, “You see if I keep it up I can eventually get promoted to Senior Shouting Officer, and there aren’t usually many vacancies for non-shouting and non-pushing-people-about officers, so I think I’d better stick to what I know.”
https://umas.unist.hr/~kpervan/DIM1/ISPIT%20DRUGI%20ROK/Poglavlja/7/poglavlje_7.html
If anything, the last week has shown that the was situation is not tipping in Russia’s favour. Very limited gains in the east. Very high losses. Ukraine forces still operating with very high levels of capability. Russian rear lines under serious attack. This war, from Russia’s perspective, is a f*cking nightmare.
And if Russia only got out of the Kiev offensive in the nick of time, it seems they won’t this time, could be a major in field defeat of the Russian army coming up in a few weeks or so time.
I just realised the D in Arthur 
I hope you remembered to bring a towel.
Could well be.
But this is still the transitional period immediately after first phase failed. They have not yet had time to adapt and reorganize and may not have even decided what to do yet.
If you are right, then if they agree, the logical thing to do would be to avoid battle for the next few weeks or so eg by looking for an “off ramp” at negotiations.
That might explain why:
But I still think Russian options are to either quit now, or mobilize now.
If they decide to mobilize they might still be able to retreat and defend for the next few weeks and avoid major defeats while mobilizing. But it would be a long war after that.
Transcript of Zelensky’s most recent address
I’ve seen no proof there are zero penguins in the Arctic. Penguins have been found as far north as Ballina in recent times. This little fella could be frolicking up there now for all we know.
Your oft-repeated 10km theory really makes no sense , I’m afraid. They can shell Kyiv from far far further than 10km. If the intention was simply to gain ground for an artillery threat to the capital, they probably could have stopped at Chernobyl. There would have been no need to sieze Hostomel airport, yet that was almost the first action.
They clearly wanted / needed boots on the ground in the capital, whatever they were intending. The miscalculations they’ve made in terms of forces required and reception they’d get has been immense.
Russia may have just reverted to WW2 steamroller tactics. Reports coming of a heavy artillery and missile barrage followed by ground offensive along the entire Donbas front line. Reports of a breakthrough in two locations. This is the sort of battle - fixed defensive positions - that Ukraine probably can’t win. And it’s the concentration of firepower that Russia probably should have adopted on morning one - but have they already bled themselves too thin?
