Interesting. Don't forget Federal capital cities are a governments, center of power. The very heart of there power. Especially in Commie countries. Whatever gets said about them. So a little pickle for the Russians. Supposed to put up a really good fight. Don't forget. Countries spend huge amounts of time, and wealth, with there P.R. Public perception. I was never fooled in the attack on Kiev. That one thing anyway. I knew Kiev was going to put up a good fight with the Russians. Even if they did not put up a good fight with the Russians. I suspected also the Russians wanted these government workers in Kiev, in years to come, to look outside there window, if they have one yet, and see the devastation, brought upon themselves. To know when any other politician, wants to take on the Russia again. That you are dealing with, a complete nut job.
Politicins run NATO countries and Russia. Officially. The miltary think what they want, and do, and learn. That the military is, the most important thing of all. Politicians don't agree. You are expendable. You just have to wait, as order to. You just have to leave now, as order to. Whatever. Political objectives are more important that military objectives. A politican may think peace, is more important than victory, or maybe having a nuclear war instead of a (it sucks) peace. Is not what the voters want.
Also something very important. So I better say this. Could be wrong about lots of things. This to. I am a complete amateur. I know nothing.
Russia believes, it is in a fight for it life. Basically. There is something in the military called a (gambit). OK. Where you sacrifice soldiers to win a battle, or to win a war. Based upon videos I see. That if you get hit. Even with old tank rounds, you are dead, or your tank or whatever, is still taken out. It seems that with modern smart munitions. That you are more likely still, to get hit, with some round. So you need to deal with not getting hit. Tech has come to the point of diminishing returns, with surviving a hit. So I think the Russia's want to not get hit, with modern, high hit probability munitions. As I talked about a little before, with Javelins, and such.
So Russia has deployed a army to the battlefield. Like 10% of there total land force strength. Has kept the combat power of there air force and navy to up around 100%. Still has most of it's cruise missiles, and hyper-sonic missiles, that apparently, really work, really well. A statement, unto itself.
So with a country that has deployed some of it's military. A army. With this concept of a (military gambit). Where you sacrifice some, to win a battle, or a war, with N.A.T.O. Well there is all kinds of videos now on YT, about modern nations missile defence systems, and all else being deployed to Ukraine now. (Showing Russia lots of our cards). So for a pittance, militarily speaking. Russia is learning all kinds of our capabilities, for a pittance, (5% to 10% losses of what they sent at best). When all we here about is (the stupid and slow Russia bear) all the time. Always respect your enemies, for they be mighty. A very good return on investment on the Russians side. With our government doing P.R. stunts for various reasons, including as a deterrent, to the Russians. Seeing our R.A.D.A.R. and other tech, being used, all day long, in various places, throughout the country. Same with A.E.G.I.S. carrier fleet defence systems. R.A.D.A.R. and such. So to not get hit. It's all about overcoming R.A.D.A.R and optics systems. When you have the hoard. See weaknesses, and develop exploits, based upon, real world battlefield experience. For a pittance.
Again the art of war. Your enemies great strength is there greatest weakness. Or your enemies perceived greatest strength, is there greatest weakness. We are number one. You don't have a chance. Bla bla bla. Even the USAs best advisors were wrong about publicly to, about how long taking Kiev would be. Not even close. Such a basic thing. With NATO forces present. They are giving you want you want to believe. (Keep swallowing, they will give you even more). Maybe I am wrong. Can a chance be taken?
Hopefully I am wrong. Unless America (the president) wants to use nukes first. Backed into a corner with two choice. Surrender or use nukes. WMDs. Then Russian P.R. wise can strike back, at continental North America. It's all about politics to politicians.
It's more than just armies moving around. Russia has new playbooks. Doctrines. May look the same, but it is different. I know, I know nothing. I got lots of company. KGB trained people. A fiend, within a fiend, within a fiend. It's a Drows life after all. R.A. Salvatore novels. Older ones anyway. Have not read any new ones lately. Sum it up. Everyone is trying to kill you, or get you killed. Drow society. Or dominate you.
Let say Russia takes over Ukraine. They are going to want to says that now "tough Ukrainian soldiers now fight by our side". Put up the "good fight". Tactics vs strategy. P.R. strategy. NCOs vs officers. NCOs make sure the men, get it done. Officers point them in the right direction, at the right time. If they are that good. Well and all that. The Russian hoard does that to, in mass. Thanks' N.A.T.O. for teaching the mighty Ukrainian soldiers, N.A.T.O. war fighting techniques. Russia knows how to set bear traps to, in a manner of speaking. Right on the Russia border. Where else to. Looks like NATO is going to have to hold them, because NATO, didn't know when to fold them. They got the cards, they got now. Well I could be completely wrong.