Arkanghelsk Sat Sep 10, 2022 5:41 pm
So now the second post.
To restate. This is a major defeat. All territory gained by Russia in the Kharkov Oblast save the most northern parts, looks like it will be completely abandoned. This will severely shake Russia's credibility in Ukraine, in Russia itself and in the world. The Russian authorities promised that 'Russia is here forever' and it quickly abandoned Kharkov - which is a city founded by Russian Tsars and not in the Russian imagination a foreign city.
The Ukrainians - by all accounts punched forward with a powerful fist - their most powerful yet and barely grazed the Russians. From 6 to 10 September they attacked and whenever they met resistance from a Russian unit of appreciable size they were always halted or thrown back. From 6 to 10 September 2022 the Rosgvardia and then the VDV fought while being heavily outnumbered in Balakleya for 4 fays and prevented the Ukrainians from capturing a town they had clearly reckoned to capture on day 1 or day 2 of their offensive, judging by UKR telegram posts and a number of false claims they had captured it and/or overrun the garrison. Russian forces throughout all of this demonstrated high morale and never retreated until ordered to. This makes the complete abandonment of the position utterly baffling and questionable from both a military and, in this author's opinion, political standpoint. Military the Russians tied significant Ukrainian forces to Kharkov city and to near Izyum and Slavyansk that were not directly in front of Donetsk. Now the Ukrainians can concentrate their forces.
This leads to the conclusion. More Russian troops are not on their way, the Russians were taken by surprise at the force of the blow - and Putin is not releasing more troops to the operation.
The contrast between a masterful defense in Kherson and - at the operational level, tactically Russian forces performed at worst acceptably if not better - the abysmal defense of Kharkov Oblast will have consequences. Now is that the time to doom though - and not to be optimistic. Now is the time to be angry. If you are Russian, demand that more be done. If you are Ukrainian and live in areas where the Russians are, demand that they protect you and be serious. If you are not Russian, urge these things - for the Ukrainians have made no secret of what they will do to those they see as 'collaborators' which is to say anyone who so much as accepted Russian humanitarian aid packages. It is encouraging that Russia has begun more seriously evacuating civilians to keep them out of harm's way but they should never have been put there in the first place.
The responsibility for this goes to the very top - to the political decision makers. They have choices they need to make if they want to win - and we should do whatever we can to urge them to do it.
- Rybar , Donbass Devushka, zastavny, Voenkor Kotenok
The time has come enough is enough
Putin, shoigu, someone has to step down