It is reported that Russian troops are fleeing in panic in the Kharkiv rout. Ukraine, it is said, has obtained more abandoned equipment from the Russians than all the equipment supplied by the west in the past 6 months. Ukrainian troops are of course very familiar with Russian equipment and so are able to, and have been, simply taking over the abandoned equipment and pointing it in the other direction.

Russia can ill-afford to lose this hardware. Already they have withdrawn equipment from Syria and have been reduced to buying munitions from North Korea!!

Whatever happens in Ukraine, it is clear that the days of Russia as a global power or even a dominant regional power are over. Some of the regions that have relied on Russian support are now up for grabs. Belorussian leadership, for example, which relied on Russian support is now at the mercy of external forces. One would expect Lukashenko's days are numbered. Look also to Transnistria, the nominally independent portion of Moldova to be quickly dissolved now that it is clear Russia is unable to support or defend it.

On a wider scale, Syria's Assad grew increasingly reliant on Russian arms. That is now over. Expect Israel to take full advantage of that fact.

In the longer term, it is now apparent that NATO is no longer needed. The next Republican leader is likely to begin the process of pulling the US out of Europe.

Russia is now a client state of the Chinese Empire. This sort of, kinda, strengthens China but gives it a series of problems that it may come to rue.

Mhaze,

I agree with most of what you said except that I don't see the US pulling out of Europe with the great success of the Ukraine campaign.

It must be humiliating for Putin having to go cap in hand to China.

From the ABC:

"Russian forces likely left behind dozens of tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other heavy weaponry as they fled Ukraine's advance in the east of the country, a Ukrainian think tank said Wednesday.

The Center for Defense Strategies said one single Russian unit that was around Izium left behind 39 T-80 tanks and 35 infantry fighting vehicles.

Another unit left behind 47 tanks and 27 armoured vehicles.

The think tank said Russian forces tried to destroy some of the abandoned vehicles through artillery strikes as they fell back.

Typically, armed forces destroy equipment left behind so their opponent cannot use it.

However, the chaos of the Russian withdrawal apparently saw them leave untouched ammunition and weapons behind."

I am amazed at how the left is so accepting of all the war crimes being committed by the Russian army in Ukraine. e.g.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3572525-new-mass-grave-discovered-in-izium-zelensky.html

I wonder what Jules thinks of all the crimes being committed by his Russian chums? I think that he should be pardoned if he serves six months on the front line for the RF. He could be part of a tank crew and will hopefully get blown up by a Javelin with a full compliment of incendiary shells on board.

Yes, Julian Assange and the left seem to be willfully ignorant of the crimes that Russia is committing in Ukraine.

https://socialistworker.co.uk/comment/ukraine-war-entering-a-deadly-new-phase/

Unlike Vietnam, the war crimes in Ukraine are endorsed from the top, making Russia the equivalent of Nazi Germany. KIA wise, Russia looks like exceeding the US inside a year, making Ukraine a Vietnam on steroids.

What's also hurting Russia is that the oil price is dropping as is now even lower than before the invasion and still heading south. Russia is now running a heavy deficit to pay for the war and to keep the unemployed (on furlough) from starving.

Russia confiscated all leased aircraft, and as such will never be able to buy or lease western aircraft again until this is all paid off. Also the oil refineries, gas plants etc owned by Russia in the EU are being confiscated and the $Trillions of assets purchased by oligarchs are also being taken. Putin and his cronies are now a whole lot poorer.

Even China who a few months ago pledged friendship without limits won't risk western sanctions to lift a finger.