In OTL the Soviet forces withdrew from western Ukraine and even abandoned Kiev. What if the Soviet army had stayed in Ukraine and been defeated in a battle for Kiev.
Say it is because they fear that the Polish-Ukrainian forces would get bolstered by taking such a populous city and they do not want to deal with that problem. They then force a battle, which the Polish command wished, on the outskirts of Kiev and are defeated. Retreating Soviet forces cause much devastation to Kiev hoping to make certain that it cannot benefit the Poles. This backfires leading to major popular support for Poland now seen as the liberator of Kiev. Instead of in OTL the Ukrainian Army remaining rather small it grows very large and turns back the Soviet armies.
If this happens what would you expect Eastern Europe to look like?
I expect a Ukraine that goes maybe to Poltava if battles continue to go their way, but at least a very pro-Poland Ukraine that is at the Dneiper.
Thoughts?