It took years for Russia to take Toretsk and days to lose it back again:

The way Russia fights is infuriating.  It doesn't defend anything.  When attacked, it just gives the ground away and retreats, no matter how advantageous the defensive position.  It has retreated from vast swathes of Ukraine and even retreated and given away portions of Russia, all for the sake of a better exchange ratio, a clean war where they can use nothing but standoff artillery and air power.  As a result, the hard-won city of Toretsk is lost again, and now Russia has to start all over from the beginning.  Toretsk is only a few kilometers away from the initial position Russia started in in 2022, over three years ago.  They're literally incapable of conquering a kilometer a year.

I said Toretsk was the first clear sign Russia was winning the war -- then they lose Toretsk back to a Ukrainian counterattack.  So actually there is no clear sign Russia is winning the war.  Russia used to know how to stand their ground -- look at the siege of Leningrad or the battle of Stalingrad.  Those were real men fighting a real war.  Present-day Russia is full of wusses.  Putin is a pussy.  He let his country get bombarded by British, French and U.S. missiles and did nothing in response.  Not a single leader of the U.S.S.R. would have ever let that happen.  A pussy leading a bunch of wusses will find it difficult to win a war, or even take a single city a few kilometers from the initial border.

Russia is blessed by its enemies, however.  Biden was literally senile.  Zelensky was a comedian who played piano with his penis for the camera.  Due to the incompetence of Russia's enemies they'll still muddle through somehow.  Zelensky was more interested in making sarcastic wisecracks in the oval office than securing long-term American support for Ukraine, so now the U.S. is done supporting Ukraine.  Karma comes at you fast.

Ukrainians aren't cowards.  They actually fight for their land and make it hard to take.  No matter the odds, whether they're outnumbered or outgunned, they keep fighting.  Even when they're surrounded on three sides and obviously should retreat they keep fighting and hold the line anyway.  But war isn't won by blind courage, it requires intelligence as well, and Ukrainians are the stupidest people on Earth.  So it all evens out.

I rewatched the latest season of Prince of Tennis, the Uma Musume movie and the latest Oomuro-ke movie, all towards the goal of rewatching all great anime.  I also added the opening theme of Prince of Tennis U-17 World Cup Semifinal, 'Wake Up,' to my music hall of fame.  It's quite catchy.  I kicked out 'ghost mode' from Heroes of Might and Magic 5 to make room.