[OutsiderFan]

It's one thing for the Executive Branch to release intel saying Putin has been misled and doesn't trust his military. It's quite another to actually know specifics of what he has been told that isn't true and what he believes that isn't true.

I find it curious that Russian forces are shelling and bombing civilian infrastructure while being pushed back by Ukrainian forces. Wouldn't it make more sense to use those munitions on Ukrainian military? I mean it's almost like Putin was told that if they bomb Ukraine into smithereens and otherwise terrorize its people that they would ask the government to stand down.

Another curious thing is Russia has not destroyed or even to my knowledge attacked Ukrainian government buildings. It has razed local government buildings, but not the capital city's government. I see Ukraine parliament has not stopped meeting. Why would Russia not level the parliament building?  Just kind of baffles me. Is there some modest chivalry going on, like you don't bomb the government headquarters for the country?

I don't believe Ukraine's military is planning to stop pushing Russia back until it is out of Ukraine completely, including Donbas and Luhansk, maybe even Crimea. There was fighting between Ukraine forces and Russian separatists before the invasion in East Ukraine, but it's not like Ukraine's military was making a big commitment, or do anything to Russia in Crimea. Now, it seems they have the motivated manpower and resolve to keep on pushing Russia out until it is gone, especially given the damage already done. 

So maybe the "bomb civilians" strategy wasn't the right one?

[OutsiderFan]

It's one thing for the Executive Branch to release intel saying Putin has been misled and doesn't trust his military. It's quite another to actually know specifics of what he has been told that isn't true and what he believes that isn't true.

I find it curious that Russian forces are shelling and bombing civilian infrastructure while being pushed back by Ukrainian forces. Wouldn't it make more sense to use those munitions on Ukrainian military? I mean it's almost like Putin was told that if they bomb Ukraine into smithereens and otherwise terrorize its people that they would ask the government to stand down.

Another curious thing is Russia has not destroyed or even to my knowledge attacked Ukrainian government buildings. It has razed local government buildings, but not the capital city's government. I see Ukraine parliament has not stopped meeting. Why would Russia not level the parliament building?  Just kind of baffles me. Is there some modest chivalry going on, like you don't bomb the government headquarters for the country?

I don't believe Ukraine's military is planning to stop pushing Russia back until it is out of Ukraine completely, including Donbas and Luhansk, maybe even Crimea. There was fighting between Ukraine forces and Russian separatists before the invasion in East Ukraine, but it's not like Ukraine's military was making a big commitment, or do anything to Russia in Crimea. Now, it seems they have the motivated manpower and resolve to keep on pushing Russia out until it is gone, especially given the damage already done. 

So maybe the "bomb civilians" strategy wasn't the right one?