Will A Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Be A 'Cakewalk'?

Reuters  

Melinda Haring, National Interest: Why Ukraine Wouldn’t Be a Cakewalk For Russia  

For all the assessments of Putin as a geopolitical mastermind, he could be in over his head when it comes to Ukraine. 

When will Russian president Vladimir Putin strike Ukraine again? It may be sooner than you think. 

President Joe Biden stated in his recent press conference that he’s convinced that Russian troops will attack, and Washington’s national security establishment is on edge. 

Right now, more than 100,000 Russian troops plus an array of tanks and weapons surround Ukraine from three sides.

Last week, a cyberattack hit a number of Ukrainian government websites to test their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. 

Russia also sent soldiers into Belarus (no one knows exactly how many) and six Russian ships are on the move to the Black Sea where they could be deployed as part of an amphibious attack on Ukraine from the south. Meanwhile, the troop numbers keep climbing.  

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WNU Editor: There is a lot of speculation on how such a war would be fought .... The ‘Georgia Model’: Russia’s Plan for Invading Ukraine? (19Fortyfive). More here .... Russia Planning "Lightning War" To Take Out Ukraine's Capital: UK's Johnson In Dramatic Claim (Zero Hedge). 

As to what is my take. 

War is never a 'cakewalk'. 

And if the Russian army does invade Ukraine, I expect them to focus on regions that are dominated by Russian-Ukrainians who would either support such an invasion, or be neutral. 

This will keep casualties at a minimum, while freeing up a large force to not monitor and police the occupied territories. 

Cities like Kiev and Odessa will be seeing significant damage, primarily in the city centers where government buildings and installations are located. In these areas I expect a large number of casualties and significant infrastructure damage.