"The second version was clearly doctored by a pro-Russian blogger who reversed the figures."
- More likely the second version was doctored by a US government source, to play to the confirmation bias of people like yourself, who have been swallowing the propaganda and lies tailored specifically for your benefit since day one.

"It is common knowledge that people attacking entrenched positions lose substantially more than the defenders."
- Not when Russians have an 8 to 1 advantage in artillery, as well as TOS 1A heavy flamethrowers, air superiority and FAB 500 and FAB 1500 bombs, not to mention Ukrainians are so short on shells they may as well be fighting with sticks and stones.

"Kromova has not fallen and the highway is still open."
- Well I hate to inform you...

Bakhmut Is In The Cauldron.
http://youtu.be/11Wu3jw4c-s

"Russia was using mortars on these islands to hit Kherson City. They can't do this now."
- Russia can hit ANYWHERE IT WANTS IN UKRAINE, ANYTIME.
They are called hypersonic missiles, and no air defense the west provides can stop them.

"The force being built up includes 100 000s of soldiers 837 tanks, 1000 armoured vehicles and a couple of Patriot systems to clear the area of Russian aircraft."
- Russia will blow those Patriots up then it will hit all that other stuff with their air force and Kornets. Half of those 'tanks' don't even have tracks and are outdated junk, not up to the task, and Russia has sent in T-14 Armada's and testing new mortar systems...
- And if they really have all that why did their Bakhmut unblocking operation / counteroffensive fail?
I thought Zelensky wanted to hold Bakhmut 'At all costs'
- Was even waving a flag signed by the fighters there around the US House of Congress saying Ukraine will not lose another city, wa supposed to have taken Donetsk City back by now?
Apparently there's 2 to 3 battalions trapped in Bakhmut.
- You're in denial, you think Ukraine is winning.

Go have another sip of Kool Aid, charter boat.

Also if Russia is tracking fuel and ammunition supplies and transfers and blowing them up, how is a Ukrainian counteroffensive going to manage sustained offensive operations with limited air defense?

837 tanks will run out of fuel pushing into Russian held territory, and they are all going to be destroyed.
- If they even survive to be a part of the coming counteroffensive in the first place.
Ukraine right now is probably losing more than it's gathering for the operation, and they delayed it because they're not ready, and they know the chance of success isn't good, and they'll be forced to the negotiating table under Russian terms when it fails.

Baldrick,

Now you are just raving. The Ukrainian tanks are fully ready for battle. Russia has not destroyed any large ammo and fuel dumps because none of them are within range and all of them are dispersed. Russia has nearly run out of large missiles and cannot blow up Ukrainian playgrounds or hospitals for a while.

Russia is racking up debt and paying for the war from reserves. By 2024 these reserves will have run out and Russia will start going bankrupt.

Russia is losing this war.

"because none of them are within range"
- [rolls eyes] everything's within range.

"By 2024 these reserves will have run out and Russia will start going bankrupt."
- Russia is projected by the IMF to be doing better than the US in 2024.

You just refuse to listen to anything that doesn't support your pre-existing beliefs.

"Ukraine will need 4 to 6 times as many troops as Moscow has fielded if it wishes the break through the Russian defenses."

http://www.youtube.com/live/f9uv2uN2E5s?feature=share

- So good luck Ukraine, with no air cover they're going to need it.
No surprise their great spring offensive has been postponed.

Baldrick,

Have you wondered why there are so many spectacular photos and videos of Russian ammo dumps exploding but none of the Ukrainian dumps exploding?

There are several factors against the Russians:
1 their logistics planning is crap
2 They tend to build large ammunition stores near the front lines
3 The occupied territories are full of people that hate the Russians and are happy to tell the Ukrainians where the dumps and dormitories are.
4. The US and its allies have fantastic satellites and spy planes.
5 The HIMARS systems are super accurate and have a long range.

For the Ukrainians.
1 Their logistics are run along Nato lines
2 They build small well-concealed ammunition dumps
3 They are not occupying an area where the civilians hate them
4 Russian artillery is inaccurate and has a shorter range.
5 Russian Satellites are old and of little use.
6 Russian missiles are few and inaccurate.

For the Ukrainians