Check the debris fields of Russian missile attacks. NATO sends equipment and supplies to Ukraine where much is stored in warehouses and bunkers pending further distribution. Russia blows up said warehouses and bunkers. Rinse and repeat. Russia has fucked us, what, a half dozen times this way? Wait, wait, just kidding. After all, if “that” really happened, it would be in our news, right?
The same day Putin is claiming to have captured Mariupol, he also has to confess to give up on eliminating a couple thousand Ukraine soldiers in Mariupol. The best he can do is attempt to blockade them. Somehow Putin is trying to spin this as a 'victory". Putin in humiliating U-turn as troops told to ABANDON storming key plant after resistance VLADIMIR PUTIN has performed a humiliating U-turn, ordering his troops to abandon plans to storm a key plant after they faced tough resistance. https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...ack-Azovstal-steel-plant-ukraine-war-invasion
Azov et al were an insignificant part of Ukraine's politics. Something like 3% in the last elections. Not now. Putin has taken care of that. Azov (especially with the latest Putin "decision" to stop attacking AzovStal) have become legendary heroes in Ukraine. I am sure that will be reflected in electoral politics later.
Intelligence had him years ago with pancreatic cancer, if memory serves. That was quite some time ago. It is possible it could be that it has recurred, or it could be something else. But yeah, he doesn't look good. I'll see if I can call the Kremlin and find something out - since I have a direct line.
Some of those eastern/donbass/Mariupol areas that were Russian leaning- or that had high areas of support might be rethinking things a bit too. They might have been Russian leaning when they thought that the only decision was between being under Russian government or Ukrainian but both sides might- for example love their city of Mariupol first- and the Russian government second. Not working out that well for people who were/are pro-Russian but basically loved their friends, family, community first because Putin just erased all that. "Can't we all just get along" - Rodney King
Putin worried about "saving the lives of Russian soldiers." While also invading Ukraine. Not the smartest move if you are worried about the health and wellbeing of Russian soldiers, which he is not. Maybe he should get the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian efforts in Mariupol.