Unfortunately for the residents of Moscow, all Russian AA weapons are currently in Ukraine.

It seems that we have progressed to the "find out" stage. I wonder if this will have any measurable effect on Putin's support, though. Russians seem like heavy sleepers.

Both have the same ultimate cause, as well: politicians safe at home demanding immediate results no matter what it costs.

Putin thought he could defeat Ukraine in three days, and the result is two years and plus of war, tens of thousands of casualties that he will admit to, and US-made weapons now being fired into Russia. I don't see him being the kind of 4D Chessmaster you seem to think he is.

At this point Putin's goal is pure personal survival. He needs to not lose the war because that would make him look weak, which is very dangerous for a dictator. To keep himself alive and in power he is willing to throw any amount of Russian soldiers into the meat grinder.

All South Korean male citizens are required to perform 18-21 months of military service.

While this is true, the fact that war would be a bad idea doesn't necessarily mean it won't happen. People make bad decisions all the time.

it does seem excessively lurid to suggest, without direct evidence, that they have been raped in captivity for the past several months

But you're just going to do it anyway?

Okay that's something. I'd like more, obviously, but it's nice to hear.

That's great. Are they actually going to do anything about it?

This is an important part of it. The other part is the fact that success in politics is very hard without money, and most rich people aren't progressives.

Actually the battle lines have hardly moved at all since Ukraine withdrew from Avdiivka.

https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/can-either-side-actually-advance