(10-29-2022, 04:21 PM)Goose Wrote: Very much agree, but something isn't "right" here. If the Russian supply situation is so bad, why has the number of outgoing artillery shells from the Russians been increasing, not decreasing? The Russians have moved many conscripts onto the right bank. Why do that if you can't supply them? The Russians did supposedly "evacuate" the civilians, which would somewhat ease the supply situation, but that doesn't increase the supply of military items, like ammunition. It could be that the Russians are just clueless (and/or desperate), but for some reason I doubt that. Something isn't adding up here. It may be those pontoon bridges are working a bit too well.The answer may be simple. The Germans wanted to retreat to a more defensible position, but were not allowed to do so for political reasons since Stalingrad had become such an important symbol for Hitler's advance.
Losing Kherson could be politically devastating to Putin--after all the incompetence of this war has become apparent despite the domestic propaganda. The decision to remain could be based on Putin's assessment of political risks rather than military risks. And given that the Russians will remain, I am sure that the commanders will make the best of it. It will be up to Ukraine to exploit this decision and genuinely turn it into another Stalingrad. If they can, it could be the turning point of the war, given how many eggs Putin has put in the Kherson basket.