Latest S2 Update on Ukraine

[putnam6]

Mariupol the home of the Azov "Nazi" Battalion is being pummeled, that's their home base. 

Russian officials demand Ukrainian forces surrender Mariupol by Monday morning

According to a statement from the Russian National Defense Management Center, Russia has given Ukraine a deadline of 5 am on Monday 21 March to agree to surrender its eastern port city Mariupol. Russian officials said they will open humanitarian corridors for civilians to exit Mariupol at 10 am Moscow time in exchange for Ukrainian forces laying down their weapons, Reuters and the Guardian report.

President Duda: According to @ZelenskyyUa, Russians from Syria are coming to Ukraine and mercenaries from the Middle East supporting RU. Syrians are the most numerous. In this context, more NATO assistance to Ukraine is needed. But this also illustrates Russia's weakness and is an interesting signal for Turkey

The use of middle eastern mercenaries on Russia's side and the Azov on Ukraine's side isn't due to weaknesses on either side .  It's because the largest Majority of Russians and Ukrainians are all of the Orthodox faith, and both sides are trying to get around the very problematic issue of having brothers in faith killing brothers in faith on the battlefield. 

There is an issue with both sides choice of mercenary with which to wage this war, but knowing more about the Orthodox it's understandable that neither government actually wants to stand off too much on the battlefield, brother to brother.

Thanks for the insight, would definitely research any links or info you have.

Im here to learn other opinions and thoughts. Before the invasion, I atleast knew of Putin's concerns, though it's extremely dubious if his concerns warranted his response. On the face of it, it's a complete failure and I could definitely see him wanting to wipe those places off the map for denying him his easy victory.

That said the US needs to keep its ass out of it, regardless.

it definitely has a proxy feel to it and would fit with earlier reports of Russian troops being reluctant to fight. Im still trying to figure out which numbers are correct and what the true story is. Im fascinated by the military aspects, but Im also fully aware innocent people are getting killed.