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Quick sequence of some of my favorite #Russia graphics so you can familiarize yourself with the scope of what is unfolding vis-a-vis #Ukraine. Russians live in the green. The wheat belt. The part of Russia that has temperature and rainfall levels to make habitation possible.
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Compare that to the #populationdensity map so you know I'm not lying.
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Russia's problem is - Russia's problem HAS ALWAYS BEEN - there are no good barriers near the populated zones to keep invaders at bay. The Russian goal is - the Russian goal HAS ALWAYS BEEN - to expand their footprint until they reach such barriers. Those barriers are in red.
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So the thinking goes. Russian forces cannot possibly defend the heartland from inside the barriers. But if Russian forces can reach the barriers, they can plug the gaps between them. Those gateways are the blue arrows.
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Think the Russians don't need to command those gaps? Look at the #Texas overlay. Russia is BIG and it has less than half America's population. It's forward position or die.
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The Soviet Union controlled all nine of these gaps, making it the most secure Russia has ever been. Putin's ongoing wars and "peacekeeping" missions have stationed Russian troops in another five. Ukraine is unfortunate to be on the road to two more.
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Russia was ALWAYS going to invade Ukraine. The question - the ONLY question - was timing. And for those of you who like to look forward, check out where the remaining gaps are...
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