UPDATE: Ukrainians in Russian occupied cities continue to engage in near daily civil protest.
Today, large protests are going on in Nova Kakhovka and Kherson.
(2) This kind of civil disobedience both saps away at moral and diverts troops and resources from other areas of advance.
(3) Since Russia seems to only know one way to win hearts and minds - through leashes and clubs- attempts to suppress civil disobedience will likely only increase the potential of violent insurgency attacks.
#BREAKING: Concerning “update” by Russia. In a media Briefing, Head of the Russian National Center for Defense Management said “Ukrainian Nazis” were preparing to use chemical weapons - specifically ammonia and chlorine gas- on their own citizens in Sumy.
Russia is notorious for
(2) telegraphing its own ill intent to commit war crimes before they occur.
Several days before bombing the Mariupol maternity hospital and drama theater Russia said “Ukrainian Nazis” were using the buildings as military sites or planning “false flag” bombings.
(3) So there’s some legitimate concern from these recent statements that Russia may be intending to use chemical weapons on the city of Sumy.
UPDATE THREAD: Several foreign media outlets were on site for Putin's mega rally today.
While there were assuredly many there who genuinely support Putin and the war in #Ukraine, reports indicate many at the rally were effectively forced or bribed into attending.
(2) Will Vernon (@BBCWillVernon) of BBC Moscow said, "Many said they worked in the public sector (e.g. schoolteachers), and that they had been pressured into attending by their employers."
(3) Some students who spoke to BBC said "they had been given the option of a day off from lectures if they attended 'a concert.' Some of them didn't even know that the event was dedicated, in part, to support for Russian forces in Ukraine."
UPDATE THREAD: I had a chance to go through more of Putin's speech today... HOLY SH!T!
It's even crazier than I first thought.
Putin appeared to have gone after Russian oligarchs in what may come to be known as his "Night of the Long Knives" speech.
Full Quotes Below:
(2) "On those who make money here, in our country, but live there [the West] and "live" not even in the geographical sense, but in their thoughts, in their consciousness, which is enslaved."
(3) "I don't condemn at all those who have a villa in Miami or on the French Riviera, who cannot do without foie gras, oysters, or so-called 'gender freedoms'. That is absolutely not the problem."
UPDATE: Putin emerged from Führerbunker today to give a fiery speech to Russian cabinet members, while looking like an angry drunk.
Some highlights:
*Tactics of military operation are fully justified and doing everything to avoid losses among the civilian population.
(2) * "To avoid bloodshed, the Kyiv authorities were asked not to engage in hostilities, but simply to withdraw their troops from Donbas. They didn't want to. Well, it's their decision."
*Compared the West to Nazi Germany pre-WWII
* Sanctions are acts of "economic aggression," "economic war" and "barbaric and aggressive."
*Ridiculous claims about the Pentagon’s biolabs in Ukraine and secret development of coronavirus weapons aimed at Russia.
This is a good question. Similar, questions were repeatedly raised about the infamous “40-mile long column.” Ability is only one aspect of military strategic thinking.
The most important aspect, especially in defensive actions is timing or when to best
For Russia to attempt an amphibious landing without support of their eastern ground forces would be suicide. Now perhaps, Russia is about to pull a Leeroy Jenkins. In that case, as Sun Tzu said,
(3) “Never Interrupt Your Enemy When He Is Making A Mistake.”
Instead, it’s more likely Russia moved up those naval forces in hopes it would cause Ukraine to pull additional troops toward Odesa, helping open up a path around Mykolaiv or to try and ferret Ukraine’s defensive