ebbs and flows at one styage russia held 27% of Ukraine not the 18% they have now .....and at that time russia weren't shutting up shop and building defensive lines .....they were still attacking and aiming for more - I think that illustrates russias aims quite well - they did want Odesa and did want Kyiv at very least . Ukraine have taken back A LOT of their land since that time when russia reched it's peak control of Ukraine
the loss of territory recently ....and it will continue for maybe another months or so .....was inevitable in the context of the shortages and russ air superiority combined these problems are being addressed now and russias window of opportunity for easy gains will close soon but russia never took even 1% of Ukraine during that "easy time" for them over months and what they did take came at a very heavy cost in men , vehicles and in artillery
