Biden says Zelensky 'didn't want to hear' U.S. warnings of invasion

[Bucky]

24. In a perverse way, the Ukrainians not being alert helped them out.

Because they were prepared to fight and experienced, but not alert enough to the impending incursions, it meant that the Russians had columns of troops and vehicles deep into Ukraine's territory before the full brunt of the defense could kick in. The Russians far outpaced their supply lines, bogged down (especially around Kyiv), and became sitting targets for defensive reprisals for weeks.

Had the main confrontations happened just inside the borders instead of hundreds of kilometers in, the Russians would have been in tighter fighting formations and would have lost far far fewer forces. They would've been closer to their refuel and supplies and could have maneuvered into better defensive positions. Also the Ukrainian forces would have been closer to Russian air bases as well as missile and artillery platforms.