Read previewRussia is fumbling a golden opportunity in Ukraine as its latest offensive stalls, experts told Business Insider. The monthslong Republican delay over a new tranche of US military aid had left Ukrainian forces desperately short of ammo and equipment. AdvertisementBut it's likely Putin had other goals — and he may have succeeded in some of them, Bury told BI. Even so, it looks like Russian forces were quickly overextended and poorly protected, The Telegraph reported. "The Kharkiv offensive, even if it wasn't what the Russians have hoped for, ultimately in many ways it served its purpose," said Reynolds.

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