> A distraction from the thus-far unsuccessful counteroffensive, perhaps A distraction from something that hasn’t even started yet? Seems unlikely. > if Russi

> A distraction from the thus-far unsuccessful counteroffensive, perhaps A distraction from something that hasn’t even started yet? Seems unlikely. > if Russia did it, what did they gain? They stopped Ukraine from passing nearby in the counter offensive and they have destroyed Ukrainian agricultural resources for decades to come. They get to displace and terrorise more civilians which is a major Russian tactic in pretty much all wars they conduct. They are going scorched earth because they are preparing to leave and want to do as much damage as possible on their way out.