There are two ways to tell a truth, words and actions. Actions always speak louder because it is harder for actions to lie. Recently, Russia has been telegraphing that she has lost the war. Not set backs, but lost with no hope of winning.
https://twitter.com/Antonina_m_g/status/1569996452008546305?s=20&t=_JFCBi6i1s6hhEuCcNt75Q
These are just 3 of the many recent attacks that can only be described as scorched earth actions. Its something an army does when it is retreating with no hope of coming back. It is the ultimate expression of if I can't have t neither can you. Sometimes it is even a valid tactic.
For example, the Soviets did much the same in 1941 when retreating from the German invasion. The goal was to make long German supply lines even longer by denying local resources. Terrible and deadly to the civilians left behind but a logical case of strategic triage. In this case
however, Russia's actions more closely resemble Germany's after the tide of the war had turned. Germany revisited the scorched earth tactics the Soviets had used and turned the tables. It was an admission of defeat, that the war had become unwinnable. That is what we are seeing
now. You don't destroy billions of dollars worth of critical infrastructure if you think you are going to be the ones left in control of the area. You do it too leave your enemy holding the bag. It also adds to Europe's energy crisis. Russia has been de-industrializing Ukraine
almost from the first day of the war and this left Ukraine with a net surplus of energy she could export to Europe. That surplus is shrinking as Russia tries to bomb Ukraine into a pre-industrial state. Its not all doom and gloom though. Because Russia is losing, it means the
rebuilding has a real hope of giving Ukraine a much needed chance to build more modern infrastructure, factories and other economic bones to create a society that is competitive. New factories matter a lot in the battle for efficiency. Post war look at the economic miracles of
Germany, Japan, South Korea. Or the Post Mao economic powerhouse that China has become. Or flip side look at the decline of American and British industrial might as our factories aged and became inefficient post war. The best response to Russia's scorched earth tactics are firm
commitments by the major powers to provide low cost loans, favorable trade deals and access to technology post war. It will also give the Ukrainian government a leg up in fighting corruption as the old economic institutions are replaced with modern globally integrated ones
The Ukrainian government and our leaders like @JohnBoozman, @SenTomCotton, and @RepFrenchHill are going to have to vote to approve much of this so that central banks and investors feel secure enough to invest in Ukraine. I think they will and 10 years post war I think we will see
Ukraine that is following in the foot steps of the other countries that emerged from war's shadow into a much brighter economic future. Until then however the war is not over. Russian troops remain in the South and in the Donbass. Russia is making moves near Kherson and I saw a
picture of a bailey bridge section headed towards Kherson. Baily bridges are a type of semi-portable truss bridge made from pre-fabbed sections and can move a lot more traffic than a pontoon bridge. They can be put up quickly and don't have as many limitations on traffic. However
they are not HIMARS proof. I don't know if Russia is thinking they can build one to get troops out or supplies in but Ukraine gets a vote. That pocket of combat power is in deep doo doo and I can't wait for its defeat. I would love to see Ukrainian troops driving up the Black Sea
coast by the end of the current campaign season. Every time I log into @MriyaReport I hope to hear about a surrender. Until Russia is defeat, I will continue to give to @MriyaAid and to support the @georgian_legion and remain committed to seeing Ukraine win on Ukraine's terms:
Slava Ukraini! #scorchedearth #russiaisateroriststate #UkraineWillWin #GenocideOfUkrainians @mfa_russia <--- still losing and you should start worrying about proportional response.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
