Ukraine Update - Are The Russians Losing?

The outlines of the Russian plan for the assault on Ukraine appear to be emerging. Putin hoped to decapitate Ukraine, seize Kyiv and other major cities, and put in place a puppet government. This would have allowed him to provide some cover for his claim that he entered Ukraine in response to provocations and threats. It would also, perhaps most importantly, have produced enough ambiguity about what was really going on for a number of nations to opt-out of enforcing sanctions.

It was all to be over in a matter of days. Before the world really absorbed what was going on, Putin would have a new compliant Ukrainian government in place. There would be no protracted period in which the world would see streets filled with bodies, refugees flooding across borders, and the brutal reality of Putin’s actions.

Right now, it does not appear to be working out the way Vlad planned. The Ukrainians it seems have other ideas.

Ukraine live @berojag59060636

#Ukraine More than 4,000 Molotov cocktails have already been prepared in Lutsk. #Russia #UkraineRussia #UkraineUnderAttack #UkraineRussiaWar

Ukraine live @berojag59060636

Ukrainian volunteer fighters barricade to stop Russian vehicles #Харків #Harkov #UkraineUnderAttack #UkraineWar #UkraineRussiaConflict #Ukraine #Ukraine #Kiev

Ukraine live @berojag59060636

#Ukraine This is raw bravery. Ukrainian women who have just joined the territorial defense to protect Kyiv. At background you can hear a sounds of fight. Inna is a psychologist. Yuliia (in the center) is a Ukrainian language teacher. And Olesya. #UkraineRussiaWar

The initial Russian seizure of the Hostomel airfield near Kyiv was apparently planned to secure an air bridge, which would allow additional Russian forces to flow in to seize the city. Ukrainian forces responded quickly and counterattacked. While Russian forces seem to still be in the vicinity of the airfield, they do not appear to be in control of it.

Efforts by the Russians to seize a second airfield near the capital appear to have encountered heavy resistance. Two Russian transports filled with paratroopers appear to have been shot down.

Fuad Alakbarov ⁠⁠ @DrAlakbarov

News about Russian control in Vasylkiv is not true. As you can see, the airfield in Vasylkiv, which is 25 km from Kyiv is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Hananya Naftali @HananyaNaftali

A downed Russian plane. Ukraine is resisting. #Ukraine

Daily Mail Online @MailOnline

Ukraine says it has shot down Russian military plane ‘carrying paratroopers’ trib.al/4txj8dd

Dozens of people were wounded during the night in Kyiv, but the Ukrainian government is still in control of the capital, mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Saturday.

NBC News World @NBCNewsWorld

Kyiv woke Saturday after a night of explosions and gun battles in the streets to find the Ukrainian government was still in control of the capital. nbcnews.to/3pj95Xn

Ordinary Ukrainians are signing up to fight in droves. Putin may have expected surrender. He is being met with intense resistance.