If Ukraine is able to replace or recover damaged vehicles why is Zelensky still asking for more tanks (in Switzerland right now)? I thought the sanctions were going to trigger massive inflation and unrest in the Russian economy and their desire to support the war would disappear. I thought the Russians were out of ammunition last year and now they're bombing relentlessly. I though their morale was so low they were going to capitulate when this attack happened, yet their first main line of defensive trenches hasn't yet been touched. If Ukraine morale is high and Russian morale is low why are Ukrainians surrendering or refusing to fight on the front lines?
Austin told us all that he had high expectations for the counter-offensive two days before the Pentagon leaks revealed there were actually low expectations. Why believe the boy who already cried wolf, especially when his words don't align with reality? There's been too much lying. The war is costing too much in terms of tax payer dollars and Ukrainian lives. This Biden administration is stuck is a sunk cost fallacy and needs to stop.
In April of 2022, people began to ask if Russia could run out of artillery shells. The arm-chair generals laughed, and said that Russia had enough shells stored up to keep this pace until December! Then October rolls around and the shelling decreases to a level just above their production.
At the start of the war, every day there would be long range missile barrages. Now they save up what they produce over the course of 2 to 3 weeks and shoot them all at once (which is a better tactic, overwhelm anti-air, too bad they aren't hitting anything of military significance).
At the start of the war, they were using brand new high tech tanks, and even having contests and parades using the old tanks. Now Soviet era tanks are on the front line. At the start of the war, when sanctions started, the Ruble went up! Now even Moscow is admitting a spending deficit. At the start of the war, Russian patriotically signed up to serve. Now Wagner can't even recruit prisoners with full pardons.
Ukraine has near-infinite weapons and finite people. Russia has near-infinite people and finite weapons. The looser of the conflict will be who runs out first: Russia's weapons or Ukraine's people.
Ukraine can't even get people to sign up anymore without forcing them. They're begging for weapons all over the world, and facing increasing resistance for that supply.
Meanwhile Russia is cycling reserves and allowing them furlough time, and their military industrial capacity has increased to the point that newly produced weapons and armor are appearing all over the front lines.
You can't maintain this lie for much longer. The evidence is increasingly revealing. Personally I think after this counter-offensive is over it won't be possible any longer.
I said myself that Ukraine is running out of people. Russia is shipping in Iranian drones, Belarus tanks, and North Korean shells. Eventually either non-Ukrainian will out number Ukrainians on the front line, or Russian will be be completely equipped with non-Russian equipment.