I really hate to post this. But just looking at the whole situation, I think a lot of you guys are getting way too hopeful.
Russia has made a lot of strategic progress today.
Russia has control of the ports. This gives them another avenue for resupply and troop movements. They now control the coastline to Donetsk. They are apparently working on Odessa.
They've kept good Ukrainian troops occupied in the east. Russian troops arriving in the south will eventually move north and east to trap those forces.
They have forces massing in large numbers in multiple directions around Kyiv. There are millions of people still in Kyiv. A Grazny-type seige would be a recipe for an absolute tragedy.
They've taken losses, but Putin does not care. His goal is to conquer.
They will throw everything they have at Kyiv, with MLRS and artillery barrages. Air strikes. They may not even make huge moves on the ground for a few days. They no longer care if they destroy the city.
I think they will no longer be concerned about civilian infrastructure. I think they will cut off the internet and power. We won't get a lot of information as to what is taking place. Once they eventually wrest control, the Chechens in particular will do horrible things to the civilian population.
As much as we've criticized Russian planning and execution thus far, they've had time to adjust.
I hope the Ukrainians make it as painful on them as possible. Russia is going to have a tremendous problem controlling the population, which makes me concerned they are going to take drastic measures.