Predicted To Be Over In Days At The Start Of Invasion, War In Ukraine Enters Its Fifth Month
On February 24, when Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to march into Ukraine for what he called a special military operation, many including Russia and some western governments estimated it to be a short affair.
Given how outnumbered and outgunned Ukraine were as compared to Russia, many did not even give them a chance.
Momentum swinging between Russia and Ukraine
But Ukraine has proven everyone wrong and the war has now stretched into its fifth month.
The war so far had its fair share of twists and turns, with the momentum shifting between the two sides.
In the initial days when Russia made it look like an easy task and even scared the world with its viral images and videos of a massive convoy stretching kilometers.
However, this itself proved to be Russia's weakness in the war as the massive convoy which consisted of conscripts fast ran out of food, fuel, and other supplies, making them sitting ducks for the Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainians also took to social media to show how the invading forces are struggling including by towing away abandoned Russian tanks with tractors.
Backed by air, ground and navy fleets, Russians initially made some grounds and captured many areas.
But they could not hold on to them and were forced to leave Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy, leaving behind a trail of shocking destruction and alleged genocide.
Russia had to wait till May to capture Mariupol, the first major city to fall and the persistent bombing reduced it to a pile of rubble.
Russia in firm control of the war
After the initial setbacks, Russia regrouped and set its targets around Donbas instead of trying to capture Kyiv and overthrow the government.
This seems to have paid off as the Russian forces are poised to take control of Sievierodonetsk.
The battle is key for Russia to establish control over the last remaining Ukrainian-held sliver of Luhansk province, which along with Donetsk makes up the Donbas region, Ukraine's industrial heartland.
Sievierodonetsk's fall in a matter of when??
Sievierodonetsk's fall would leave only Lysychansk - its sister city on the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets River - remaining in Ukrainian hands.
The fall of Sievierodonetsk is looking inevitable and according to a regional governor, Ukrainian forces have been asked to leave the city.
Though Ukraine has lost nearly one-fifth of its land to Russia, they are not yet ready to give up the fight.
Backed by arms and financial support of US, EU and UK, Ukraine still believes that if they can drag the war for a few more months, they can still turn their fortunes around.
For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.
