Quote (bogie160 @ Jul 4 2024 07:25am)
Outside of hysteria on the part of select Western media outlets, there was never any talk of the northern offensive seriously threatening Kharkiv. ISW (you'd be hard pressed to find a more pro-West outlet) described it as a fixing operation from the get go, one in which Russia ended up committing limited reserves (~20k men). The problem for Ukraine is that they cannot afford to let Russia get within artillery range of Kharkiv proper, ergo they must commit reserves needed elsewhere. The fact that trench lines that have stood for ten years are starting to crack is notable in a war this static.
If it all was so good for Russia, Russian should not run and beg Kim regime of all to help it. Russia cant win war on its border just make petty trouble for civilized world. Propaganda work great in terrorist regime like Russia, same like in North Korea but nothing else works very well.
Most important, cant run strong country on made up Putin economic
Before:
EU trade <- Russia $5 discount dollar per barrel volume+++ days transport
Now:
India/China/Other <- Russia $35 discount dollar per barrel volume+ many more days transport
Tick tock tick tock Russia money burning up