I’ve heard rumors of a planned attack against Ukraine in this region. This move prevents it.
As other said, it also makes Putin look like a clown, increase the cost of the war for Russia (they have their own refugees now who will spread the word of how Russia is invaded for the first time since ww2), allows to take prisoners and equipment, give control over a gas pipeline so they can pressure Austria and Hungary, forces Russia to move troups and equipment away from the Dombass, improves the moral in Ukraine with victories and humiliating Russia.
Strategically, the only drawback for Ukraine is that they are in a position of invading force in some way, which may make some allies or international opinions a bit uncomfortable. But the whole list of positives has the potential to change the war.
Considering that Ukraine have made it clear that they don’t want to even be there does ease discomfort though
Yes, it could only be a bad pretext for actors who didn’t want to help anyway
True, but it’s just whining. I saw someone claiming that they were once neutral, but once Ukraine arrested Russian Orthodox “priests” who were basically already acting as Kremlin puppets something something “Ukraine gone too far!” So… raping children and women in Bucha, you stayed neutral, but once a few priests get arrested for reasons unrelated to being a priest, you find a problem?
