Rasputitsa.

This is coolbert:

Esteban has broached the idea that the Russian rapid mechanized military advance the Ukraine [as hoped for] has been stymied possibly as a result of the famed rasputitsa.

"Rasputitsa . . . is a Russian term for two seasons of the year, spring and autumn, when travel on unpaved roads or across country becomes difficult, owing to muddy conditions from rain or melting snow. 'Rasputitsa' also refers to road conditions during both periods.

"The afternoon high in Kiev all week is going to be above freezing."

WET COLD! BELOW FREEZING DURING THE NIGHT HOURS, ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAYTIME. CREATES EXCEEDINGLY MUDDY CONDITIONS UNSUITABLE EVEN FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY MOVEMENT OF TRACKED VEHICLES!

"Maybe the Russians were counting on General Winter — after all, it’s February in Ukraine — to freeze the fields hard but wound up having to stick to the highways due to Marshal Mud?"

Normal procedure when confronted with the rasputitsa just to HUNKER DOWN and await the condition to pass!

coolbert.