The last few months have seen a dramatic change in the war. With the delivery of nearly 200 super accurate Nato style howitzers, 20 odd HIMARS systems and US HARM missiles the heavy losses of the Russian forces as they attack heavily fortified positions for tiny gains and the destruction of their armour, their air defences and their logistic systems have essentially bled the Russian army strength away.

All this time the Ukrainians have been building their forces to the point where they can deliver massive attacks on two fronts. In Kherson, the 35000 Russians have been trapped between the river and their enemy, with little to no chance of resupply or reinforcement and are being constantly battered with artillery, drones and tanks while low on ammunition and food they are unable to mount a sufficient defence.

Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, the huge force that was built up in secret has torn through the Russian lines like wolves through a hen house gaining about 6000 sq km and capturing vast numbers of vehicles, artillery and ammunition.

The Russians are now facing the possibility that Russia is going to lose this war and with it the illegally occupied Donbas and Crimea.

What the Ukrainians have done to date is impressive. Equally the mess the Russian leadership have made of what should have been an easy win is spectacular.

By constantly talking about how they were going to attack the Russian invaders in the south of the country, the Ukrainians convinced the Russians to relocate their troop and equipment strength to that part of the conflict. Then the Ukrainians delivered the sucker punch by attacking in the north-east and overwhelming the now depleted Russian forces. That the Russians fell for this shows just how hopeless their leadership has become.

If nothing else comes out of the conflict, the abiding lesson is that Russia is no longer a threat to NATO or any NAATO country.

There have been stories that some senior Russian politicians are calling for Putin to resign and that some of these have been arrested. But remember that Putin still has some cards to play. Only a portion of his forces have been unleashed thus far although it is unclear as to the quality of those in reserve and how well they are equipped.

But the biggest worry are the Russian nukes. If the current leadership is cornered and see no way out, they may decide to escalate the conflict by using tactical nukes against their foe.

The war still has a way to go.

Dear Shadow Minister,

We must thank God for this good news.

Alternatively, their fellow Communists, the PRC, might step in and lend the Russians a hand to produce an altogether different end.

So sad for the Ukrainians, but the RF has suffered heavy losses and been shown up as incompetent criminals. It is great that the Ukrainian army now has the capacity to deal with RF artillery. Would anyone like to take a stab at how much longer the RF can last in Ukraine? AC? Mox? I believe the Russians are desperate to call a ceasefire, but I doubt they will get much peace.

Hi there SHADOWMINISTER...Thank you for a great topic.

What concerns me most - The massive Russian military in toto, being under the precarious and volatile aegis of Mr PUTIN; Is he the sort of bloke that if he can see he's losing the war; but worse, losing 'face' as a consequence of that loss. Do you believe he's sufficiently disturbed to employ nuclear weapons in the Ukraine, if for no other reason but to strengthen & fortify his image of being a tough leader?

In my humble opinion, I believe Mr PUTIN to be the most dangerous man in Europe today, due ostensibly to his capricious and mercurial behaviour.