Putin's objectives are only evolving because he cannot militarily achieve any of his original objectives. The failure of Putin's surrender demands in 2022 are simply a reflection of his failure on the battlefield.
Anything less than the subjugation of Ukraine is a failure for Putin. That was his objective. He failed to accomplish it. He never will accomplish it.
The only thing he can and is fighting for is the degree of failure. A failure Putin chooses to continue purely for his own political stake, nothing to do with the benefit of Russia who is now greatly suffering in terms of men and economic losses because of the failure of Putin's making.
Body count is factors higher on the Russian side. The only equalising factor here is Ukraine cares about their casualties, Putin does not care at all about Russian casualties.
Putin has no chance taking Odessa or Kharkiv. All he is capable to do is deliberately terror bomb populated city centres to kill innocent people.
