MORE HERE:
[EXCERPT]
The war from across the border has impacted citizens in the Belgorod region of Russia to the point that many towns and villages have been evacuated, with some looking like ghost towns—this after armed groups mounted multiple raids since the war’s start—as well as increased shelling and rocket fire. Just two days ago the anti-Moscow “Russian Volunteer Corps” said they launched another attack out of Ukraine, after a bigger one nearly two weeks ago left multiple casualties and many saboteurs killed.
“Shebekino was a wonderful, flowery town on the border with Ukraine filled with happy, neighborly people,” said Darya, 37, a local public sector employee. “Now only pain, death and misery live in our town. There is no power, no public transport, no open businesses, no residents. Just an empty, shattered town in smoke.”
This will rally Russians to quit the Ukraine incursion, just like 9/11 rallied Americans to quit meddling in the Middle East … NOT.
If anything it will drive enlistment and muster local militia.
I feel this is out-there propaganda. Russians know what the horrors of war are - citizens fought German soldiers in hand to hand combat to protect Moscow. They went toe to toe with Hitler’s war machine.
When Putin invaded he did so to thwart NATO’s plans for regime change in Russia; he focused on restraint re Ukr citizens; he wanted to cripple the infrastructure so Z would surrender. Yes, yes I know the Uke advocates insist the Russians were conducting a bloody torture hellsport, but then I posted a Tweet about a woman in the Ukrainian gov admitting she falsely posted stories about Russian war crimes. I don’t think Russian soldiers are saints - I think they are busy, on a mission to get in and get out and didn’t hold bacchanalian feasts wherein they tortured citizens for sport; Putin sees the region as Christian slavs for the most part and wanted to restore relations at some point.
The citizens of Russia see NATO as an existential threat - and they are correct. They were furious with Putin’s restraint. When it was clear Z would never negotiate under any circumstances, Putin went ‘relentless bombardment’ and the citizens of Russia felt relief that he recognized the danger to Russia that the NATO alliance represented.
Because the Ukrainians lost Bakmut, they are targeting citizens in terrorist attacks. The Russian citizens thought this was military to military war and the Ukraine has made it clear they will attack non combatants directly, to distract from their losses and keep the money flowing.
It’s just appalling that the piece above does not acknowledge that Russia fought Germany and knows quite well what the horrors or war are. They just didn’t expect attacks on unarmed citizens.
I remember now where my objection came from so strongly - decades ago I worked with international groups and, sorry to say, the penchant the Russians had of watching black and white movies of the war over and over again was the object of joking among the Americans, like “Who’s winning tonight?”
The Russians were ingraining the inhumanity of war into the public to the point I thought it could cause PTSD. Comedies were rare and had profound elements of loss/death/separation, and then it was time for another war movie showing death/sacrifice etc. - a steady diet to remind them how close they came to defeat. So the article’s notion that they are just now learning about the horrors of war just stunned me.
Take it to ‘em.
It may be a December 7th moment.
And remember the Maine.
And don’t forget September 11th.
Russian Revolution kicked into high gear after the 1905 loss to Japan.
Brilliant idea...
Ukraine is deliberately attacking Russia and mocking Vladimir Putin, the dictator who controls the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.
Hooray, for us!
What could possibly go wrong?
NYT?
Head Shake.
.....and the misery gets worse everyday...and Dr. Z somehow has time and safe passage to make the “case” for more arms and money in so many different venues..something about all the bilateral contradictory inflated verbage screams...fake reporting everywhere...first click-bait fueled war reporting..follow the money instead..
May God bless and protect Ukraine and all Ukrainians
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Odd, the Russian separatists who attacked Belgorod speak Polish.
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1665276056679378944
SORTA LIKE WHEN ILLEGAL INVADERS SHOW UP IN YOUR SANCTUARY CITY???