Russia is giving IDs and clearing people of debt. Version that this will be some kind of semi-independent region now doesn’t hold up because of IDs, also Russia seems to really going to win this one also because of going through the process of giving IDs.
I don’t believe this was the plan, but since the “first phase” failed, Russia has no other option other than annexing as much of Ukraine as possible.
Oh for sure, Ukraine is losing badly but they’ve been preparing defensive positions for the last 8 years with the help of NATO, which is why they managed to kill so many Russian soldiers.
Can’t Russia just airstrike these positions out of existence? Or is the problem that they’re in populated areas (fascists using civilians as shields, again)?
I’m not a military expert. I’m sure they’re doing what they can. But yes, the ukranazis are also fighting near civilians or outright using them as shields.