Putin probably had underestimated the Ukrainian army a bit, hoping that he would be able to stay out with his own troops, and have his proxy doing the fighting all alone. But then came the Ukrainian push into rebel-held territory, and the separatists were retreating on all fronts, and had to do so quickly, the land they held shrinking fast, Luhansk in danger of beeing completely encircled. Kiev started to announce that Donezk would fall in a short time, so would Luhansk. And all of a sudden - the winds of war changed, and the rebels retaliated with such a ferocity and superior firepower that the Ukrainian army had surviving soldiers returning from the battlefield saying that they got mauled and that they lost three brigades in extremely short time, while commanders at the front desperately called for help over public TV and radio...? Now the rebels no longer retreating, but reconquering lost territory - and all by their own strength?
Extremely unlikely.
__________________
If you feel nuts, consult an expert.
|