3 Mistakes Putin Did in Ukraine That Will Cost Him the Throne

Game over?

On the morning of February 24th the whole world was shocked:

Russia invaded Ukraine. The full-scale invasion started at 4 AM. Missiles were bombing Ukrainian cities. Russian tanks crossed the border.

Washington experts unanimously claimed that the capital of Ukraine — Kyiv will fall in 2 days. It didn’t happen.

Russian generals had the same opinion. According to the revealed Russian secret documents: the whole operation to seize Ukraine was supposed to take 5–7 days. A small victorious war.

In the real world — the war is going on for 13 days. Kyiv is still Ukrainian. The Russian army has not been able to capture any major Ukrainian city.

So what happened? How does a small country manage to withstand the world’s second-largest army?

The blitzkrieg failed

Blitzkrieg — military tactic calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces through the employment of surprise, speed, and superiority in materiel or firepower.

Simply put, it is a short-lived war when the main combat missions are performed in a few days during a rapid attack.

It seems that the plan of the “military operation” (as this war is called in Russian propaganda) consisted of several stages:

Day 1

Destroy Ukrainian air defense system by massive volley fire and missile strikes. Destroy or capture military airfields by airstrikes and landing of Russian troops. Thus, ensure complete dominance in the air, during the first hours of the invasion.

Day 2

Numerous airstrikes to destroy the main military infrastructure: warehouses, hangars with equipment, command posts, radar stations. Completely undermine the defense potential of Ukraine.

Day 3

The first two days created favorable conditions for the full advance of ground forces in key cities of Ukraine. Target #1 — capital — Kyiv. Capturing the capital could significantly undermine the fighting spirit of the defenders of Ukraine.

Russian propaganda has not even concealed the fact that Putin does not expect any delays. Generals promised to take Kyiv in 12 hours.

Russia’s plan was identical to the one they implemented in Georgia in 2008. That time the Russian military reached Tbilisi in 5 days. Then under threat of destroying the capital, Western leaders sat down at the negotiating table.

Mistake #1 — Wrong Estimates

And here we come to Putin’s first mistake.

He greatly overestimated the strength of the Russian army and underestimated the strength of the Ukrainian.

It is often the case in totalitarian countries. Russian generals, wanting to please Putin, form in his head the idea that the Russian army is invincible and unmatched. A small army of Ukraine will never be able to resist it.

Putin believed that the Russian army would not meet any serious resistance on the territory of Ukraine. However, Ukraine is not a small Georgia, it is a large European country with a population of 44 million people.

Eight years ago, part of the territory was forcibly taken away from Ukraine by Russia. All these years Ukraine has been preparing for a new attack and rebuilding its army from scratch.

As a result, the Russian army is advancing very slowly, and for every small town, there is heavy fighting. Locals are arming themselves and joining the territorial defense to protect their cities. Aviation and air defense systems have not yet been destroyed, they are still resisting Russian troops.

The blitzkrieg completely failed

Mistake #2 — Resistance of Ukrainians

The Kremlin believed that Ukrainians would greet Russian soldiers with flowers and tears of joy. They were convinced that in Ukraine they have a wide social base of support, especially in the eastern and central parts.

Not so long ago, in 2014, Putin already occupied part of the Ukrainian territories, Crimea and part of Donbas. At that time some people from those territories supported such actions.

In eight years, it has become clear to everyone that Russia is interested in land, not people. Putin has a maniacal desire to return the territories of the former Soviet Union.

In addition, Ukraine has taken a clear direction towards Europe and development. It made a life here better. So even earlier pro-Russian sections of the population began to wholeheartedly support Ukraine.

Putin miscalculated about the Ukrainian nation.

A few weeks ago there were discussions in certain circles about where to go: towards Russia or Europe. After a full-scale invasion, this issue disappeared. Everyone understood that Europe is the only reasonable direction for the country, and Russia is an aggressor country.

The military invasion, the shelling of civilians, children, the constant bombing and destruction of cities, the shelling of a nuclear power plant, and the violation of all the laws of war — things that Russia does. These things have turned Putin into an image of absolute evil.

For Ukrainians, this war has become liberating. There is an incredible patriotic upsurge in the country, people are going to fight the overwhelming force of the occupying army. Even ordinary people take up arms and defend their city. Even pro-Russian mayors are organizing the defense.

In the already occupied towns, there are constant rallies in support of Ukraine. People without weapons in their hands, with Ukrainian flags, are protesting, blocking the roads for the movement of Russian military equipment.

People are ready to pay with their lives for their land, freedom, and independence. Sovereignty has become a real value!

Putin also underestimated Ukrainian President — Zelensky.

Putin always treated him superficially and perceived him purely as a comedian and actor. But Zelensky, like most residents, is willing to risk his life for the country. He is fighting to survive and maintain Ukrainian independence.

When the tanks approached Kyiv, several Western leaders offered to evacuate Zelensky. He didn’t leave the country and remained in besieged Kyiv. Everyone has forgotten that he is an actor.Now he is a national leader who fights with his people.

In short, Putin hoped to fight the Ukrainian government with the massive support of the Ukrainian people. As a result, Russia must fight the entire Ukrainian nation that is ready to die for freedom.

Mistake #3 — Reaction of the West.

Putin was right about NATO. NATO wouldn’t fight with Russia for Ukrainian independence. But he didn’t expect such a harsh reaction from the world.

Ukraine receives enormous support, both political and material. All over the world, people take to the streets of their cities and hold rallies in support of Ukraine (and we are infinitely grateful to you for that). All world companies stopped business in Russia. They don’t want to sponsor death.

Now virtually the entire world community supports Ukraine in its struggle for independence. While Russia found itself in a blockade and isolation.

The UN General Assembly voted in favor of the resolution condemning Russian aggression. Only five countries opposed it: Russia itself, Belarus, Syria, Eritrea, and North Korea.

Putin has frightened the whole world.

Now he is an absolute antihero. Russia itself under his leadership is sinking deeper into isolation. The Russian economy is suffering from the burden of sanctions, and the largest companies are leaving the Russian market.

Final Thoughts

Putin hoped for a blitzkrieg and a swift capture of Kyiv.

But the war drags on, his army suffers losses. Russian generals were overconfident and underestimated Ukraine’s ability to resist. Russia’s economy is suffering and Russia is becoming an outcast.

Soon people of Russia will feel the full weight of this war.

However, Putin doesn’t stop, he maniacally continues to send more and more troops to Ukraine.

On the next failures, he responds with terrible shelling peaceful neighborhoods and killing hundreds of civilians.

Putin is bombing entire cities, where there are no strategic facilities, where there are not even Ukrainian troops.

That’s why we are so desperate to ask NATO to close our skies.

Thousands of innocent people die every day who could be saved!

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