Here are some insights from Russian observers of the war in Ukraine.

The most important event of the winter was the absence of the big offensive of the Russian army, which everyone expected. Why is there no attack? There are several versions, from positive to negative.
1. Weather. Winter in the region was very warm. Therefore, muddy. Therefore, the offensive cannot make use of mobile groups. They are waiting for solid ground.
2. Russia needs a large grouping. And the Russian economy was not able to arm the army in time.
3. For the offensive you need air supremacy. To do this, you need to suppress the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is what they were doing. So far they haven’t been able to complete the task.
4. Russia wants to advance after the defeat of the Ukrainian offensive. That’s why probably Russian army is waiting for.
5. There is a tactic of small strikes, probing where the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is weak. And it is strong everywhere. So the probing goes on for a long time. 6. Catastrophic loss of time is Russia’s style in this military campaign. 7. Russia is not capable of a major offensive.

Zelensky again gave the order not to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, despite the operational encirclement of Ukrainian troops. What does all of this mean?
1. In general, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are led by advisers from the Pentagon. For example, it is well known that Zelensky has long wanted to remove Zaluzhny from the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zelensky is jealous of Zaluzhny’s popularity. Zelensky is afraid that the Americans might replace him with Zaluzny. But the Americans simply forbid Zelensky to remove Zaluzhny.
2. But wasting troops on the defense of Bakhmut is Zelensky’s personal decision. The Pentagon was in favor of withdrawing troops from Bakhmut, but decided to allow Zelensky to fight for Bakhmut.
3. Zelensky gave the order to put tens of thousands of lives of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in harm’s way in Bakhmut for political purposes.
4. Zelensky wants the Ukrainian army not to retreat. To cling to every piece of land as if it were its own. This is the assertion of his power. Own land is the one for which solders are ready to fight and give their lives. The Russians have shown everyone that they are not ready to fight for Kherson. It certainly was a huge political mistake.
5. And Zelensky needs a symbol of invincibility, a symbol of the heroism of the Ukrainian army. Severodonetsk, Mariupol, – the heroic symbol did not work out. Kherson, Izyum – somehow they were easily taken from the Russians. Heroism was not shown by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zelensky wants to show heroism in Bakhmut.
6. Zelensky is a PR man. For him, the war takes place in the symbolic space, first of all. This is the cynical truth of the 21st century. 7. And Russia does everything in the style of the 20th century. 8. Now it is being decided which style will win, 20th or 21st century?