Funny thing about empires is that the meaning of their existence is to expand. They either expand or collapse.
Hence expansion is of existential importance for them.
I guess this has to do with the principle of their growth: it’s extensive, instead of intensive.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensive_growth
Another reason why the Russian empire wants Ukraine is to secure its borders by mountain ridges - in this case, Carpathian mountains. Nowadays it makes less sense, since missiles quickly fly over any mountains - but their archaic thinking, induced by former invasions, still persists.
Realistically it was always going to be a hard slog after the Russians had months and months to lay mines and dig fortifications everywhere.
Absolutely pointless for Russia, given the cost in manpower, hardware and financial ruin, and no gain.
The land they are temporarily occupying is going to be dangerous to use for decades, maybe even centuries after this ends.
Endangering the world’s food supply for millions?
Just so they could plant their stupid flag on a little more land? As if Russia doesn’t have enough land already?
Funny thing about empires is that the meaning of their existence is to expand. They either expand or collapse. Hence expansion is of existential importance for them. I guess this has to do with the principle of their growth: it’s extensive, instead of intensive. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensive_growth
Another reason why the Russian empire wants Ukraine is to secure its borders by mountain ridges - in this case, Carpathian mountains. Nowadays it makes less sense, since missiles quickly fly over any mountains - but their archaic thinking, induced by former invasions, still persists.