Russia's military is under pressure in Ukraine and refocusing on the east is likely to be a bloody campaign
ABCThis week saw the first briefing from the Russian military on their "special military operation" in Ukraine. Speaking in front of a massive screen showing maps and videos from Russia's Ukraine operations, Colonel General Sergei Rudskoi's short update provided several interesting pieces of information. Russia's Plan A, B and now C Ukraine has taken combat casualties, and it has had many of its civilians killed and maimed by Russian forces. The Russian general described how, when it came to Ukraine's cities, "we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimise losses among personnel and civilians". Given the Russians now control most of Ukraine's southern coast, an offensive in the east might deliver a "victory" that Putin could sell to both domestic and international audiences.