Does depend if a full occupation of Ukraine was indeed Russia's goal and intention though. I know the collective west/MSM likes this idea, but its also a very convenient way of convincing their audience see Russia has lost, even if they have actually not! And remember Russia never stated that occupying the whole country was one of their military objectives when this conflict started.
FWIW many ex-US army analysts I've listened to claim the Russians never had any intention of taking over the entire country or storming places like Kiev (Russia itself also never stated that occupying the whole country was one of their military objectives when this conflict started) but that the main focal point was the Donbas region were they now apparently have the bulk of the Ukrainian army surrounded in a cauldron. Rather than getting bogged down in messy battles for every house (which would favor the defending Ukrainians) they are instead just heating up the cauldron, while surrounding these cities/armies and cutting off their supplies.
That's not to say the Ukrainian army is not fighting fiercely and winning many battles, but after all if Russia was really losing so terribly would Zelensky be dashing around and begging for (WW3 inducing) all these no fly zones?
These analysts also point to the fact Russia never had anywhere near enough troops to achieve a full occupation of the country and that unlike in the Iraq invasion where the US aims were regime change (and they destroyed the infrastructure of the government/army) and decapitation of the central government, Russia's behaviour doesn't point to it wishing to destroy the government itself (only the Neo Nazi Azov battalions/divisions) as it is in active negotiations with the Ukrainian government precisely to avoid an Iraq type situation (total chaos) which would only lead to destabilization of a region that is on its own border.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I don't think turning Ukraine into a Stalingrad type situation and proxy war against Russia, is really helping the Ukrainian people and for the sake of world peace we should be seeking deescalation and diplomacy not pouring petrol onto the bonfire which is what our own leaders are doing.
It is also not as black and white a situation as the western media are trying to make out. The Ukrainian government is not some shining beacon of peace loving democracy but one of the most corrupt in the world. The Azov elements within that government/army are indeed real (videos all over the net of them torturing POW's and civillians alike) and they were were indeed brought to power in a CIA sponsored coup back in 2014 (go and watch these thugs in the Ukrainian parliment).
Yes many Ukrainians and Ukrainian regions do indeed hate the Russians but many regions in Ukraine are Russian and have suffered terribly under the Ukrainian regime, and actually wanted/supported Russian intervention.
Ukraine is unfortunately trapped between a rock and a hard place, but this lord of the rings narrative where suddenly we (after Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, etc.) are suddenly the peace loving good guys is ridiculous and US/NATO's role in this debacle should not be white washed and glossed over.
Anyway I better get out of here before I get bogged down in a pointless unwinnable battle myself!
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