They have 200,000 troops and they've already lost 10,000 and three generals. 'It's very difficult to take a city and Russia is already at its elastic limit. Russia has blockaded and bombarded Mariupol, in the south, for most of the last two weeks, but has yet to take control.ĭuring that time they have hit a number of civilian buildings, like a shopping centre, apartment buildings and on Saturday, a mosque.īut Air Marshal Stringer says these might be beyond Russia's capabilities.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, close to the border with Russia, was shelled relentlessly during the first week, as was nearby Sumy. Russia has bombed civilian areas in several cities around different parts of the country, leading to accusations of war crimes. They are looking for excuses to say 'we're held up here' which are forcing the generals to come forward and find out why their objectives aren't being met.' 'They have grunty, conscript forces who are poorly trained for ground combat and poorly equipped. 'Russia has spent a lot of money on its military in the last 15 years but mainly on peacetime products like submarines. He adds that the reasons that things haven't been going so well are likely a combination of poorly trained and equipped Russian forces, and a lack of morale. 'It is very unusual in modern or even historical warfare for this many senior generals to have died.'

When things aren't going well, when things have stalled, they go there to find out why and they are vulnerable.' If things are going well they will stay at the back.

Pic: MaxarĪir Marshal Stringer says this slow progress of the convoy, and the reported deaths of three generals, are bad signs for Russia. Image: Russian hardware is moving to different positions around Kyiv, including what appear to be rocket launchers in Berestyanka.

Ukraine war map 2020