They are trying to prevent victory
The first phase has been solar and offensive: immediate attacks on a wide range of targets across Ukraine, Russian troops up in Kiev, Gostomel, the seizure of northern Ukraine (Chernihiv, Sumy), a breakthrough from the south to the Donbass, establishing control over Kherson and part of the Zaporozhe region, the semi-darkness of Kharkiv, a frenzied attack on National Front and AFU positions in Mariupol (the operation is almost complete) and on occupied DNR/LNR territory