the last such large scale invasion was Vietnam war. so no one really knows how to fight it with current tech.
I tend to think that Russians underestimated Ukrainian resolve, initially thinking that it would be similar to a Prague Spring/Pristina airport style operation - secure the airport, and reinforcement rolls in through the airbridge. Only after stiff Ukrainian counterattack plan B is implemented - hold the airport as long as possible so that Ukrainian forces cannot focus on the main Russia force approaching from northeastern and northwestern directions. The entire operation is a gamble and I have to admit that Russian high command sent a lot of elite troops into a meat grinder.
Yet they are on the doorsteps of Kiev from two directions. Ukrainian resistance is being worn down in the east while the southern front continues to be expanded. Remember, this is just day 2.
Honestly, if these guys managed to hold the airfield, they collectively deserve Hero of Russia. They were supposedly facing elite Ukrainian Rapid Reaction Brigades throwing everything at them.
Reads like some creepypasta from Local58...
Latter half of World War II, Hungarian Uprising, Prague Spring comes to mind. Even the withdrawl from Afghanistan was so skillfully executed that there were no casualities, something US couldn't match.
