@Chazman
Three days ago, this looked like a border raid to create chaos, discredit Putin's rule and lift morale in Ukraine.
Two days ago, it looked like this was a diversion to end the Russian push on Charkiw.
Yesterday, it'd looked likey they meant to make the frontline shorter by cutting off that bulge of the border between Kursk and Belgorod.
Today, there's a real chance that Ukraine actually keeps a substantial chunk of Russia occupied for a substantial amount of time.
And that time might be longer than many people think. With the ability to use conscripts, Russia has a massive superiority in manpower, but they don't have the equipment. It's all in Ukraine, especially their tanks and anti-air. If the Ukrainians manage to hold on to their gains, at least the push onto Charkiw will have to be abandoned, and there'll probably even be diversions from other parts of the frontline, slowing them down there. The defenders are Kadyrov's clowns, demotivated conscripts and +40-year-old mobiks who've sat there on their arses for almost two years. And they're facing combat hardened troops with Strykers and Leopard 2 tanks.
This is not a raid, it's an invasion, and it won't be over anytime soon. Even if this operation goes south for Ukraine, it won't be over for weeks.
Rybar and Fighterbomber are in full-on panic mode right now, it's genuinely hilarious.
But what they tell their followers is also legitimately scary. It seems as if the Ukrainians advance under a cover of electronic warfare assets, mobile SAMs and a shitton of drones. They take out all Russian drones, advance with their own drones, and subsequently their mechanised infantry follows to destroy what little has managed to survive the drones. I read claims that a Russian infantry company was attacked by 90 FPV drones over a one-hour period. Can you imagine the sheer terror? Jesus Christ.
