We have no idea what the Russian plan is and whether it is working or not. For all we know everything is a feint to draw Ukranian forces away from break away Luhansk and Donetsk, and possibly the land bridge to Crimea, so Russia can secure them.

If, as the Ukranians are claiming, Russian forces are right outside of Kyiv, that means that they broke through and advanced over 50 miles from the Belarus border, not a very good sign that the Ukranians are effectively resisting them. I find it hard to believe that the Russian air force, which was recently battle tested in Syria, doesn't have complete air superiority, and with that they will dominate the battlefield no matter how hard the Ukranians fight. Those Javelins don't work against SU-34s bombers. Most Ukranian equipment is just like the Russian's, just an older version. Even their uniforms are essentially the same.

I hope that at minimum Putin ends up with egg on his face, but at this point we really have no idea what's going on. As long as the West is addicted to Russian oil and natural gas, Putin has a free hand. More fracking, more pipelines, more nuclear power is the way to defeat him.