comment: >
  
  
  The battle of Fallujah in the Iraq war, is a good example of how hard it is for a well trained army to take a defended city.
  
  One difference being the United States tried to not level the city during that conflict. Whereas Russia doesn't much care.
context: Throughout this whole war the one thing that cannot ever be questioned is the toughness and resolve of the Ukrainian people. >
  
  It’s funny the Vatnicks over at r/UkraineRussiaReport we’re trying to peddle the idea that Ukraine was forcing mobilization. One of the videos they posted was of a dude getting arrested in Odessa for thieving. The Reddit poster tried to say it was an arrest for draft dodging. >
  
  They have had issues with draft eligible men trying to leave the country, and they recently increased punishments for desertion. So it's not like things are hunky dory. But Ukraines 1 million man "mobilization" was really them activating their 700,000 non deployed active personnel, and calling up some of their reservists. The rest have been volunteers. To my knowledge, Ukraine hasn't had to rely on a draft or full mobilization of their reservists. >
  
  According to some on Reddit no one has actually been drafted cause they have enough volunteers. They have started requesting people check in at local draft offices to update info though. If I had to guess they may be prepping for a small wave of additional mobilization to beef up Kyiv area TDF so they can send stronger units east to launch a finishing blow. >
  
  Russia seriously underestimated the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people. A very grave mistake on part of the Russians. >
  
  They didn’t just underestimate it, they forgot it. Ukrainian soldiers fought with extreme dedication during ww2. Given how much Russia venerates that war, you’d think they’d have remembered that it wasn’t just them fighting. >
  
  Many mightve forgotten that there was a Ukrainian unit that fought against the Soviets in ww2.
  With good reason, right?  Makes for good russian propaganda sadly >
  
  and people don't talk about Makhnovshchina enough >
  
  No wonder really. They get better gear than holding troops, operate from reserve positions with comparatively more facilities and don't need to hold positions under zeroed in artillery fire for days on end. >
  
  They’re joining assault brigades, who will be involved in offensives on the front lines. >
  
  Yup. It'll be hairy going in, but the moment of greatest danger passes quickly. After one side starts retreating the ones advancing come under less and less accurate fire. >
  
  That's what Dan Carlin says about ancient warfare. But this trench warfare we've seen is brutal.
  The Russians tactics are to Artillery the trenches. UA decides to hunker down or fall back. When artillery is over, you defend against the assault. This is repeated over and over for months in the east. It must be hell.
  Russians are firing 10x more shells too.
  Ukraine's offensives in the Kherson area before the Kharkiv offensive in the North, was brutal, months of offensives after another with little ground taken, for months.
  Offensives are really hard in modern war it seems. You need superior numbers and an element of surprise to take a defended line, or overwhelming air/artillery support.
  The battle of Fallujah in the Iraq war, is a good example of how hard it is for a well trained army to take a defended city. 
  That happened once in Iraq, and it's been hard for UA to take back towns and cities as well.
  Hopefully they get the equipment they need to quickly defend against this next Russian offensive.