[Owen]

The subject of the OP is legit. There is little available that is believable.

I have seen an analysis saying Reuters actually has reporters in the field. Ditto some India journalism agencies.

Everywhere else is quoting Ukraine or Russian official releases and those journalists sleep in a Kiev or Moscow bed every night.

Youtube is filled with view seeking channels. Most extract snippets from Telegram.

Some thoughtful text has merit. My personal screening method is . . . if the text at any point starts talking about who is evil and who is not, there won’t be much of value in that data.

[freeandfreezing]

There is little available that is believable.

The real situation is exactly the opposite of that. If you want to make the effort you can read and look at endless reports, pictures, and videos from the field in Ukraine.

You can look at drone video, first person video, and see what the soldiers themselves post. You can see the destroyed equipment, the burned bunkers, the funerals, and if you want the dead bodies and the injured.

Telegram and Twitter posts from Russians and Ukrainians in the conflict areas provide more information than was ever available before. You can use machine based translation tools even if you don't speak or read Russian and Ukrainian.

Here is an example. A first person description of a recent HIMARS missile strike on the pontoon bridge near Kherson with video.

Use Google Translate if you don't read Russian.

Video of the strike

If you watch the video, and look at the images, and read the comments of the Russians who survived the attack you will know for yourself that the Ukrainians can hit the pontoon bridge. You won't need to believe some talking head, and you won't be stuck believing the propaganda.

[aquila48]

“Some thoughtful text has merit. My personal screening method is . . . if the text at any point starts talking about who is evil and who is not, there won’t be much of value in that data.”

Yep - that’s a great smell test.