Russia launches 'Battle of Donbas' all-out assault on east Ukraine

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Moscow gave few details about its new campaign, but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that "another stage of this operation is beginning". Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia was "methodically" carrying out its plan to "liberate" Donetsk and Luhansk, provinces which Moscow demands Kyiv cede fully to Russian-backed separatists.

In the ruins of Mariupol, a southeastern port destroyed while withstanding nearly eight weeks of siege, Russia gave the last Ukrainian defenders holed up in a giant steel works an ultimatum to surrender by noon (0900 GMT) or die.

(snip)

The coal- and steel-producing Donbas has been the focal point of Russia's campaign to destabilise Ukraine since 2014 when the Kremlin used proxies to set up separatist "people's republics" in parts of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces.

Moscow now says its aim is to capture the full provinces on the separatists' behalf. Ukraine has a large force defending northern parts of the Donbas, and military experts say Russia aims to cut them off or surround them.

(snip)

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russia-launches-new-eastern-offensive-with-blasts-all-along-front-2022-04-19/

[Sherman A1]

1. I don't see them getting too far beyond killing more

Of their own troops. They are piecemealing in units that were beaten up badly in the attack on Kyiv that failed. No attempt to pause to reform or rebuild. Just a meat grinder.

[underpants]

2. Old Russian strategy

Lots of artillery (rockets)
And tons of Russians.

They just keep throwing both at the targets. Sad but that’s how they seem to do things.

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

There isn't a whole lot of finesse in their approach to warfare.