[tablespoon]

> It would be extremely hard (if not impossible) to extract and transfer those resources under constant attacks by Ukrainian resistance

I've always heard a lot of talk about that (even before the war), especially by Western leaders trying to puff up the effectiveness of their support, but is that resistance actually materializing in Russian-controlled areas?

[newby]

I would estimate that they made even the Russian-controlled areas much less stable. So if their plan was to extract natural resources... they seem to have torpedoed their own plan? I don't know, it does not make any sense to me. But honestly, the whole invasion does not make any sense. I fail to see any "rational" (however immoral) explanation that would seem believable and I tend to view it in terms of ideology gone haywire, perceived grievances, humiliation and revenge... those models seem to fit better than "rational" models like access to natural resources, protection from NATO etc. Just my $0.02.

[JamesBarney]

Most of the fighting is happening in Eastern Ukraine that was until recently fairly pro-Russia. But you can only bomb hospitals and shell cities for so long before the population starts to hate you, even if you speak the same language.