They are actually outnumbered on the battlefield and doing a good job in terms of fully occupying Mariupol and wrecking te Ukrainian military and territorial defense forces, which number something like 600,000.
It is actually not true that Russia is losing, IMO. Urban warfare is just slow.
iamtanmay@wolfballs.com 3 years ago
Russia was never going to lose in the short term, without a miracle. 600,000 UA infantry do not have the tanks, air cover, artillery, supply of Russians. Russia brought a 2.5:1 advantage if Pentagon told the truth. Textbook says 3:1 is needed, which they may have locally in the East.
Long term its impossible to occupy without local support, as happened in Afghanistan, Warsaw pact. Since East UA has big Russian support, they would be able to assimilate.
Russian defeat seemed likely earlier when they were attacking Kiev. That would have been a poison pill, since West UA hates them and they would have to commit most of their force to be successful in taking and keeping it.
Their retreat from Kiev may mean they are satisfied with the gains in the East.