Ukraine isn’t exactly a powerhouse. Regardless of the media coming out of both sides, the fact that Russian flags aren’t flying over Kyiv by now is a stain against Russia.
I think from Russian eyes, it's hard to use the full warfighting capability index because it's against their own people. Eastern Ukraine is like 79% ethnically Russian. Hard to bomb cities with your own people in it, then after you've taken it, say "yeah sorry we killed your family, but we're totally on your side, you know. We're Russian, together".
Russia wanted more ethnically Russian people in Ukraine to join them and help overthrow Zelenskyy, but that didn't happen.
Russia are struggling to take over cities in the east they claimed to have taken over 2 weeks ago. They need to engage everyone available and storm Ukraine and finish it. Finland and Sweden joining NATO makes this whole thing look like a disaster for Russia
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