Signs are growing that Ukrainian forces have penetrated Russian defenses along part of the southern front lines in Zaporizhzhia region and are expanding a wedge toward the strategic town of Tokmak, while stepping up attacks on Russian-occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian General Staff said Friday there had been further success in two areas – towards the village of Novoprokopivka and further east in the direction of another small settlement, Ocheretuvate.
Putin can survive the loss of Crimea. And he knows that a tactical nuclear attack means he loses Crimea and NATO destroys the Black Sea Fleet. That’s not preferable to simply losing Crimea.
Any further escalation means that Putin likely loses his life, too. Definitely not preferable to the other two outcomes.