It's a fake war. Neither ruling side wants it to end. The ukrainian politicians are making tons of money off it and the russians are using it as an excuse to build their military back up and as a distraction from their own problems.
If russia was intent on winning they would have just done what their total conventional war doctrine actually calls for - mass artillery bombardment. It's not like the ukes actually have the air force capable of fighting the ruskies.
That and huge urban cities are absolutely horrific problems to the modern general. Clearing a megacity is a massive pain in the ass, and while destroying it wholesale would be the pragmatic solution it would be escalating farther than intended at the moment.
huge cities are super easy to handle actually. Blockade and wait. The city will be a wasteland after 2 months cut off from it's contemporary logistical support. no need to fight, just starve them and move on.
Because a massive siege doesn't present the same logistical problems and escalation. No, this is no longer the 16th century, siege tactics are unviable in this conflict. If they were going to kill everybody inside it would be faster to just shell the city to rubble.
It's a fake war. Neither ruling side wants it to end. The ukrainian politicians are making tons of money off it and the russians are using it as an excuse to build their military back up and as a distraction from their own problems.
If russia was intent on winning they would have just done what their total conventional war doctrine actually calls for - mass artillery bombardment. It's not like the ukes actually have the air force capable of fighting the ruskies.
That and huge urban cities are absolutely horrific problems to the modern general. Clearing a megacity is a massive pain in the ass, and while destroying it wholesale would be the pragmatic solution it would be escalating farther than intended at the moment.
huge cities are super easy to handle actually. Blockade and wait. The city will be a wasteland after 2 months cut off from it's contemporary logistical support. no need to fight, just starve them and move on.
Because a massive siege doesn't present the same logistical problems and escalation. No, this is no longer the 16th century, siege tactics are unviable in this conflict. If they were going to kill everybody inside it would be faster to just shell the city to rubble.
Taking cities isn't necessary and contemporary sieges aren't static.
The Russians did famously siege Mariupol but Azov had stockpiled tons of supplies.