Vladimir Putin at dawn on Thursday when he gave the order to launch the Russian invasion expected Ukraine to collapse like a "paper tower" within a very short period of time. However, his plans seem not to have materialized as Ukrainian military forces not only have not surrendered their weapons but are still fighting against Russia's numerically superior and qualitatively superior army.
Indeed, as a US Pentagon official estimated on Saturday, Ukrainian resistance is discouraging Russian troops. The official, who requested anonymity, also said it appears that Russian commanders had not anticipated having a large enough supply of fuel even for several 24-hour custodial support and are now trying to adjust to conditions on the ground.
"We estimate that more than 50% of the force Putin has amassed against Ukraine (...) is now involved" inside the country, the official explained. "I think it's safe to assume we're talking about tens of thousands, but I won't get more specific," he added.
"We also continue to see signs of a sustained Ukrainian resistance," he further noted, saying that "we believe the Russians are becoming increasingly discouraged as they lose momentum over the last 24 hours, particularly in northern Ukraine."
Sunday was the worst day of the war for the Russians to date
At the same time, even the change in the phraseology used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicates that something is changing. On Thursday and Friday, Zelensky was telling European leaders, with whom he spoke by teleconference, that this may be the last time they see him alive; in recent hours, the rhetoric has been tougher on the Russians and radiates greater confidence and certainty about the outcome.
And while we are in the fourth 24-hour period of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, today seems to be the worst day for the Russians who have had the worst casualties. No one can verify whether the figures given by the Ukrainians of 4,300 dead Russian soldiers are real. However, Russian losses are a given.
Ukrainian military forces since the early hours of Thursday morning have been engaged in fierce fighting even hand-to-hand in many Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, videos making the rounds on the internet from reliable sources of information show many Russian tanks being destroyed while others have been abandoned for unknown reasons. Others appear to be stuck in the mud. This is because if an armoured vehicle or tank gets stuck trying to move away it will get even more stuck.
The Russians launched their attack with the main objective of destroying command centers, communication centers, radar stations, anti-aircraft systems, so that the movement of Russian fighter planes and helicopters in the airspace of Ukraine is unhindered. However, the Russian blitzkrieg has not had the expected results as at the moment all they have managed to do is to take possession of the city of Melitopol, while Kiev has not fallen and Kharkiv is still holding out.
In the early hours of Sunday morning all indications were that Kharkiv the second largest city in Ukraine with almost 1.5 million citizens would be occupied by Russian military forces. However, the unit of Russian commandos of Spetsnaz failed to capture the city and until this hour is meeting stiff resistance from the Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine has full control of Kharkiv, in its northeastern part, the regional commander said earlier on Sunday in a social media post.
"The control of Kharkiv is completely ours! The armed forces, police and defense forces are working (on it) and the city has been completely cleared of the enemy," Oleh Sinegubov wrote on Telegram.
Despite resistance from Kiev's forces, this does not mean that Russian forces have stopped deploying inside vast Ukraine. But the Ukrainians have gained time and are regrouping. In the meantime, NATO countries are bolstering Ukrainian defenses with weapons systems, ammunition and other necessary defense materiel.
Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the United States have sent or are in the process of approving military equipment to Ukraine.
"72 hours of resistance, the world could not believe it" says Ukraine's Defense Minister
Praise for the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and militiamen was given by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Minister Alexei Reznikov.
"Seventy-two hours of resistance. People could not believe it. The world doubted. But we did not give in, we continue with determination to fight the Russian invader. We showed the world not to fear Russia. Don't be afraid of the Russians, be strong and push them back. Support for Ukraine must be stronger. We are responsible for your security," Reznikov said.
15 δισ. a day cost Moscow operations Why the Russians will not endure a 10-day war
The claim that Putin's invasion of Kiev cannot go ahead because Russia will quickly run out of weapons and money and will soon have to start ceasefire negotiations was made by former Estonian Defense Minister Riho Teras. According to the former Estonian Defence Minister, this will happen if Ukrainian forces hold off the Russians for ten days.
In fact, as reported by the Daily Mail, Teras, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources, claimed that the invasion of Ukraine is costing Moscow 15 billion pounds a day. He even added that the missiles at the Russian side's disposal last for three to four days, which is why their use is limited.
According to the Estonian politician, Putin's plan was based on "accidentally" launching missiles at large buildings to "intimidate" the Ukrainians, provoking mass desertions, handing over weapons and getting Zelensky out of the country.
Furthermore, as Riho Teras claimed in a Twitter post, Russian agencies have been close to Kiev since February 18 and had a plan to quickly take over the capital and install a "puppet regime" in power.
"The Russians are shocked by the fierce resistance they met. Ukrainians must avoid panic! Ukraine must remain strong and we must provide aid!" he further stressed in another post on social media.
Continuing his Twitter posts, Riho Teras claimed that Vladimir Putin allegedly invited Russian oligarchs to a meeting at a bunker located in the Ural Mountains. During his contacts, the Russian president was reportedly upset as he believed the invasion of Ukraine would be "easy" and "everything would be done in one to four days."
Uncertain outcome of war, says senior Greek military officer
A senior Greek military officer told protothema.gr that the outcome of the war is uncertain. And certainly, the same officer told protothema.gr, the Russians' initial assessment that the occupation of Ukraine would end quickly and bloodlessly was belied more quickly than Vladimir Putin's illusions that President Volodymyr Zelensky would flee Kiev on hearing the first sirens.
All-out war by Russia
"The Russians are using everything: Special forces, fighter jets, armored vehicles, attack helicopters, tanks and from all directions with Kiev and Kharkiv as the main target," a senior military source tells protothema.gr, explaining that "in simple terms, it's a total war. They were not limited to some bombing of selected high-value targets."
As for the morphology of the terrain in Ukraine, it may favor the deployment and movement of mechanized units, but the distances are very long and the Ukrainians are putting up stiff resistance."
As for the morphology of the terrain in Ukraine, it may favor the deployment and movement of mechanized units, but the distances are very long and the Ukrainians are putting up stiff resistance: They are destroying bridges that connect the banks of Ukraine's many rivers, dismantling railway lines, doing everything they can to delay the Russian invaders.
When will we know what will happen? Maybe in the next two days, say people with knowledge of military operations. Since the first shock of the Ukrainians after the Russian invasion has passed, anything is possible and now every day everything will be more difficult for the Russians and Vladimir Putin.
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