Ukraine claims significant Russian casualties

 Washington Examiner:

Ukraine claims roughly 4,500 enemies killed ahead of 'crucial' period in Russian invasion

Russia gambled on a quick victory and it did not happen at this point. 

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The Kremlin gambled that the Russo-Ukrainian war would be over in a few days, the United States and its NATO allies would impose toothless sanctions, and the rest of the world would quickly return to normal. This sequence of events might still happen, but it is growing increasingly unlikely.

Instead, Ukrainian military forces rose to the occasion, mounting a tenacious defense of their native soil and significantly slowing the pace of the Russian advance. The determination of Ukrainian resistance was underscored by the bitter fight over the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, a suburb of Kyiv, some 25 miles from the city center of Kyiv.

After seizing the airport, Russian elite special forces were surrounded by Ukrainian troops and, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, were annihilated. Russian forces counterattacked the next day, on Feb. 25, with some 200 helicopters and airborne troops and now claim to control the airport. The airport is key to establishing an air bridge to allow rapid deployment of Russian military forces to reinforce the troops attacking Kyiv.

The Ukrainian government did not flee, at least not yet, and vowed to defend Kyiv. Responding to a U.S. offer to evacuate him to safety, Zelenskyy famously replied “I need ammunition not a ride.” In the meantime, the Ukrainian government was arming thousands of civilians to resist Russian troops should they successfully penetrate Kyiv’s outer defenses.

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The US and the Europeans have increased their sanctions as world opinion has gone strongly against Putin's war.  It is unpopular in Russia too. Where the West has been weak is on Russian energy.  They are still buying it and funding Putin's war efforts.  The Biden administration made the mistake of fighting mythical climate change and he is still fighting that phony war while the real one goes on.

It is a totally idiotic position.  Russian oil is no different from American oil.  They burn the same.  Producing American oil also lowers the price which means less funding for Putin for those still buying his oil.  Biden's energy policy is what made this war possible and he is not intelligent enough to change his policy.  The change would benefit the US and harm Putin and would have zero impact on the environment.

See, also:

Ukraine's 'Azov' fighters seen greasing bullets in pig fat for Chechen Muslim invaders