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The Russians are moving the goal posts

Polina Ivanova (@polinaivanovva), FT’s Russia correspondent, summarized the Russian military briefing today on Twitter:

Russia’s military held a big briefing this afternoon, announcing the war was entering a ‘second phase’. Here’s a summary of how Russia, at this point in the war, is depicting what it set out to do, why, and where we’re at. (relaying their words, pls don’t shoot msnger). It had two options: fight a war in the east, but allow Kyiv to replenish its forces, or start off by knocking out Ukrainian military capacities across the country.

Over a month of war, Russia has knocked out most of Ukraine’s military capacities, the generals claimed, so can now move on to next phase, which will only be focused on the east, which could involve heavy bombardment. Russia had never intended to capture Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities, the generals said – these are not setbacks in other words, it’s all part of the plan.

And the plan was to distract Ukrainian forces while Russia/ Donetsk/Luhansk made territorial gains in the east. Numerous statements made about not targeting civilian infrastructure, avoiding civilian casualties. Defence ministry briefing also shared a new official figure for the number of Russian soldiers killed, the second statement by Russian side during the course of this war. Said 1,351 were killed – figure is far below Ukrainian and international estimates.

The link she provided for the Russians own account does not work for me, so I am not citing it.

That would have made sense

The strategy the Russian briefing provided would have made sense. It was more or less what I expected them to do: focus on the south and east, but threaten Kyiv as a diversionary tactic. But it is not what they did. They failed to knock out most of Ukraine’s military capacity and tried to take Kharkiv and Kyiv, in addition to Kherson and Mariupol in the south. They are now restating their military objectives to align better with what they think they might achieve.

Good news for the Ukrainians

If this briefing betokens an end to the sieges of Kiev and Kharkiv, it is good news for the Ukraianians. Even if the Kremlin continues its long-range bombardment of those cities, how hard will its ill-provisioned soldiers fight after learning that their efforts are diversionary? The Russian briefing is confirmation that Ukraine has successfully defended its capital and its second largest city. That would be cause for celebration if its third largest, Odesa, were not still at risk.

The fight in the south is still ferocious

So far, the Ukrainian defense has blocked the Russian westward advanced towards Ukraine’s third largest city and vital port. The Russians have focused much of their bombardment on Mariupol, which sits on the route from the areas Moscow already controls in the east and Crimea. There won’t be much of Mariupol left once the Russians either succeed or fail, but for now it is holding on. That’s important. There can be no Russian claim of victory if they don’t get a land route to Crimea (in addition to the bridge they have already built over the Kerch Strait from mainland Russia).

But it’s not over until the puffy guy sings

Putin will continue to aim for something he can call success. He’ll not only want the land route to Crimea but also recognition (or at least acceptance) of the “independence” of Donestk and Luhansk as well Ukrainian “neutrality.” The Ukrainians don’t want to do any of that. Nor do they seem to be aiming to throw the Russians out of Crimea and Donbas, but they’ll want to keep that option open for the future. If the West is willing to maintain its punishing sanctions, those hopes might be justified.

Putin is facing a difficult choice. He can continue the bombardment of Kyiv and Kharkiv as well as the brutal southern campaign, hoping for a breakthrough to Odesa. Or he can try to negotiate a ceasefire in place that would enable him to resupply and refresh his forces. This war won’t be over until we hear from him. The Russians are moving the goal posts, but we don’t yet know how far.