We've been hearing that, nonstop, for three years. It only makes any sense, if you think Russians would sacrifice Moscow, to gain Kharkiv.
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And, in that case, they would end up with neither, as everything would just be a lifeless radiation-poisoned desert.
This is always the problem with nuclear weapons. It's impossible to use them without losing.
It does. Question is: would they nuke Kharkiv? I don't believe they would since it's too close to some much needed resources, and that would make excavation too troublesome, but who knows with these psychos.
I don't think the Russian command are psychos. They are pursuing specific goals I disagree with. That doesn't make them crazy.
I suspect things are escalating because a peace deal seems possible, so everyone is trying to get into the best negotiation position possible, beforehand, and get some good photo ops in and launch all of their hail-mary plays. Approaching peace deals can lead to this sort of scramble. Like it's a game of musical chairs and everyone is frantically trying to get the last chair, before the music stops.