There is something interesting developing within the UA and independent BNs---they gave ground, and the Ukrainian SF has deployed into a guerrilla fighting mode which from some comments coming in is hitting the various Russians units hard as they are spread out, not sure of the environment and confused by the messaging given them prior to the invasion and are extremely vulnerable to guerrilla attacks on small and single units. Some SF are talking about "target rich environments"---they have been around USSF to long.
It has dawned on the UA and independent BNs that by giving ground up they have shortened their lines and have to a degree really slowed down the Russian units which up to now have been mostly GRU/SF and airborne types.
The concern now is if they in fact slow down and stop these units---does Russian heavy armor then come in.
This might in fact be the case right now---there is a large number of surrounded UA/independent BNs near Donetsk that Putin offered safe conduct to and the mercenaries said only if they lay down their arms.
This pocket is well supplied with ammo and food and seems to be throwing back attack after attack by Russian airborne types and taking Russian prisoners in the process. Journalists are still getting into and back out of the pocket as of late today.
Putin was extremely surprised/actually startled that the Ukrainian military turned down the offer--IMO he does not get the fact that these UA/Independent BNs have been fighting the mercenaries and irregulars for over five months now and it is all about pride and nation not about some wild idea about "New Russia"--remember this was a rag tag group of units with little to no supplies and equipment and they have grown in capacity and abilities.
The problem is that the Russian Army might be good at fighting in large scale unit formations--but this fighting style is in small towns, villages and in various types of environments not conducive to large unit ops which is playing to the UA strengths.
There has been a solid rumor that the Russians are struggling with KIAs and WIAs from what they had assumed to be a cake walk--currently all St. Petersburg hospitals are filled to capacity with WIAs being flown out daily from the Rostov airport that was closed recently to commercial air.
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