I was asked for the reason that putin/russia is so hell-bent on conquering Mariupol.
Let me explain. Thread:
Originally putin assumed the invasion would be a cakewalk, allowing for a quick annexation of Donetsk and Luhansk (dark red). Other regions (light red) would then
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Let me explain. Thread:
Originally putin assumed the invasion would be a cakewalk, allowing for a quick annexation of Donetsk and Luhansk (dark red). Other regions (light red) would then
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have seen "spontaneous" "people's republics" appear, which would have demanded annexation to russia too.
putin would have slowly dismembered Ukraine after fake referendums, leaving a rump Ukraine under a russian-controlled quisling government.
That plan failed.
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putin would have slowly dismembered Ukraine after fake referendums, leaving a rump Ukraine under a russian-controlled quisling government.
That plan failed.
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putin now understands that Ukrainians hate russia and will fight a decades long insurgency if russia occupies their country.
putin now also realizes that he has too few troops to conquer and occupy the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine he originally planned to annex.
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putin now also realizes that he has too few troops to conquer and occupy the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine he originally planned to annex.
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putin's new plan seems to be to annex a smaller part of Ukraine.
Besides Donetsk and Luhansk also:
• southern Kherson (light green)
• southern Zaporizhzhia (light yellow)
• eastern Kharkiv (light purple)
(russia might even try to take all of Kherson (dark green)).
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Besides Donetsk and Luhansk also:
• southern Kherson (light green)
• southern Zaporizhzhia (light yellow)
• eastern Kharkiv (light purple)
(russia might even try to take all of Kherson (dark green)).
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This territory would be protected on its western side by the Dnieper river, and the eastern Kharkiv part by the Donets river.
If russia annexes these territories then Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv are all in easy reach if russia invades again in the future.
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If russia annexes these territories then Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv are all in easy reach if russia invades again in the future.
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If russia controls these territories then russia controls the water supply for Crimea and can block shipping on the Dnieper.
Mariupol is the second-largest city in these territories and the only major harbor. Mariupol was also the only major Donbas city, that resisted
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Mariupol is the second-largest city in these territories and the only major harbor. Mariupol was also the only major Donbas city, that resisted
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russian attempts to take it over in 2014.
Now putin wants to punish the city for having resisted him in 2014; and putin needs the city so he can declare the liberation of Donbas to be complete; and he needs the city before he can annex these territories.
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Now putin wants to punish the city for having resisted him in 2014; and putin needs the city so he can declare the liberation of Donbas to be complete; and he needs the city before he can annex these territories.
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But putin just needs the city for its symbolic value. He doesn't want the city's people, who defied him before.
Just like Hitler wanted Stalingrad for the symbolism and nothing else, putin wants Mariupol for the symbolism and nothing else. Fascist nihilism then and now.
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Just like Hitler wanted Stalingrad for the symbolism and nothing else, putin wants Mariupol for the symbolism and nothing else. Fascist nihilism then and now.
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