Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[Labster]

Instead of a general summary, let me just cover some of the events around the Battle of Sievierodonetsk, which is ongoing:

-- As the last major city in Donetsk not occupied by the invaders, this city is a major goal for Russia
-- Ukraine sets up a bunch of artillery in the hills around the city, across the river
-- Evacuate as much of the city as you have time to do
-- Tell everyone that things are going badly there
-- Get US intel to tell the Washington Post that this could be a turning point for the Russian offensive to start winning
-- Strategically retreat across the city, let Russia think it's winning
-- Wait until they send all of their reserves in
-- Start reeling in the lure
-- Russians start shooting each other over who gets the best loot from the city
-- Then Ukraine starts shelling the hell out of them
-- And advancing back through the city
-- Watch orcs run away faster than the British at the battle of New Orleans (I'm thinking of the song)
-- Russian soldiers are upset that they have to fight Americans (?) in the battle
-- Zelensky: we're holding out but badly outnumbered.  (You still got anyone else to send in there, Russia?)

Ukraine lured essentially all of Russia's reserves into a kill zone -- this is the local puppet government forces, the Chechens, the guys who act like special forces but are mainly just tough guys on Instagram, and of course the Siberian conscripts with bolt-action rifles and one week of training -- they basically sent everyone who wasn't tied down in other fighting into this battle. Assuming they're losing, this would mean that Russia's offensive is culminating, which is military speak for running out of reserves, and being unable to to continue the offensive without regrouping. With this, they are definitely out of trained reinforcements.