Logically you would think these terms apply to Ukraine and not Russia considering the population differences between the 2 countries and that Ukraine is supposedly utilizing virtually all of their men of fighting age while the Russians still have untapped manpower available. Ukraine's weapons systems and munitions are in good supply for now; however, that can change very quickly if NATO feels that they've bled Russia dry enough to prevent them from future activities and/or feel like the Ukrainians become more of a headache than it's worth to continue to bankroll them.

We have to broaden the scope in order for this to become a situation where Russia is the smaller fry who is burning themselves out against the west. However, the west isn't exactly in a great position either considering these countries are also burning thru their military hardware and supplies and ultimately vulnerable IF CHINA choses to start their own activities. Since we've been in a peacetime environment for such a long time, the U.S. and Europe does not have the defense companies producing large quantities of equipment, munitions and supplies like they did during the Cold War and prior. One country who seems to not be doing anything militarily in this is China.

Quote:"If Bakhmut had been captured when they started their attack in August then it would have been significant. But it's all about momentum," said Konrad Muzyka, a Polish military analyst.

He said Bakhmut's strategic value had been reduced by Ukraine's fortification of the surrounding area in the months that followed, making it hard for Russia to convert the city's capture, if it happens, into a broader breakthrough.

Quote:Muzyka, the Polish military analyst, said Bakhmut had become a battle of attrition.

"The Ukrainians are just wearing the Russians down and it's quite effective in terms of manpower and equipment," he said. "They are increasing the costs to the Russians."

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/gri...022-12-20/

I think I mentioned it in another thread---the biggest lesson so far from this war is that over the nearly 8 decades since the end of WWII----every major military on the globe apparently has forgotten just how much ammo is burned through in a major land war featuring first world peer armies. Current stocks and current production capacities are nowhere near adequate to keep up the rate of fire we see in Ukraine. Regardless of the outcome, I expect expansion of our national defense stockpiles and our weapons production capabilities to be a huge national security priority over the next five years (at a minimum).

(12-20-2022 12:10 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I think I mentioned it in another thread---the biggest lesson so far from this war is that over the nearly 8 decades since the end of WWII----every major military on the globe apparently has forgotten just how much ammo is burned through in a major land war featuring first world peer armies. Current stocks and current production capacities are nowhere near adequate to keep up the rate of fire we see in Ukraine. Regardless of the outcome, I expect expansion of our national defense stockpiles and our weapons production capabilities to be a huge national security priority over the next five years (at a minimum).

Good point.

I think another lesson is how much they are dependent on technology. There's a shortage of new cars because there aren't sufficient chips. Weapons depend on chips.
Having 80% of chip capacity in China and Taiwan is very destablizing.