11 Feb 2023 12:22 pm
Putin said he invaded to eliminate Nazis. Biden said what we would do depended on how much land Putin annexed. Putins first group of 250,000 mobilized were not trained, had to buy some of their own equipment, were issued WW2 equipment and ballistic vests that were next to useless. Helmets were WW2 that had a modern camo. cover, and rusty and sometimes inoperable AK,s were issued. These men were immediately sent to hold the line. Mobilized were cannon fodder but the line held. Wagner group recruited from Russia prisons. These people were promised a pardon if they survived 6 months on the line. Recruits from prison included sex offenders and many had Hep C and other diseases. Wagner has been using human wave attacks with prisoners in the battles around Bakhmut. Anyone retreating from the line were shot by Wagner regulars. Many of these prisoners surrendered to the Ukrainians. Vlad is now mobilizing an additional 500,000. Civilians were evacuated from Crimea after Ukrainians blew the Kertch bridge and Putin is now building heavy duty fortifications there. Putin does not care how many Russians are killed to further his goals. The only thing stopping Putin is the corruption and incompetence of his Army commanders and the unexpected fierce resistance of the Ukrainians. IMO Putin will succeed because of the attrition of Ukrainian forces. Negotiations will end the carnage. Putin is not going to quit.