Thread by @JBelcourt73

I've noticed that my observation comparing #Bakhmut to #Verdun and #Passchendaele are now pretty much the accepted comparisons, and they should be. What a nightmare battlefield. There are however some things that make it a very much 21st century war vs just WWI redux. First the

suffering is in some ways worse. The troops from late 1915-18 had become masters of trench warfare. Trenches were deep with duckboards to keep heads below the bullet line and feet above the mud. Dug outs were artillery resistant and could only be hit by happenstance and could

not be individually targeted. The night while full of terrors at least allowed movement behind the trenches and for raiding parties across no man's land. Well crewed and directed artillery in WWI could hit a fairly well-defined area but it had to be an area. It was not going to

be a giant long range squad removal system. Finally, the carnage we get to see was all 2D and still life. None of those truisms holds in Bakhmut. I have faith that deeper trenches with duck boards will be seen soon as a case of convergent evolution, but the rest are all in the

pages of the history books. Artillery and drone delivered ordnance can target individual dug outs and if a drone has thermal vision it makes the night the deadliest part of the day. I just saw some stills of a Russian unit getting massacred by a thermal equipped drone directed

artillery strike. Ukraine has taken the night away from the Russians. It might be true both ways, but we know that the night is now hunting time for thermal drones. Imagine trying to get supplied, evac wounded, mass for an attack, to repel one or even just sleep under such

conditions. No wonder I have also seen at least 2 suicides of Russian troops there recently, both observed by Ukrainian drones. The Russians are being driven mad with despair. The battlefield is Hell and there is no way out. Russian propaganda tells them two things: if you

surrender the Ukrainians will murder and torture you (not true) but if they don't they will give you back (Wagnerites are convicted felons after all) and then we will torture and murder you. Add in starvation to the mix as well. Saw video of some mobliks finding all their food

stashed in a warehouse... Russian commanders are deliberately starving their own troops. No one can last for long under such conditions. As any of the officers you see on @MriyaReport about the importance of food, sleep, dry feet and hope. With none of these and no way out

the Russian Army is going from save your last bullet for yourself to use your next bullet on yourself. Yet despite all this publicly available evidence the Russian trolls are still claiming Bakhmut is about to fall. If any phrase ever rang as hollow I do not know what it is. The

other line of disinfo that is being pushed in part by media organizations that should know better is that Europe is mad at the US for profiteering off the war. Something along the lines of, "the US is making billions off selling weapons to Ukraine" NO! The US is spending billions

sourcing weapons for Ukraine and replenishing US stocks after giving billions to Ukraine. It is money well spent. The US for all its jacked up problems, navel gazing and division has really stepped up in support of a free people trying to stop a #GenocideOfUkrainians. I am a

proud American when it comes to this effort. I have no moral qualms about tagging @JohnBoozman, @SenTomCotton and @RepFrenchHill every day telling them send more, send better, send now. All of which will help the Russian Army shatter faster in front of Bakhmut and bring us closer

to the end of the war. Of course these same publications and dis-info actors can't be found when Russian troops loot and rob banks, when Russia profits billions off of stolen grain and manipulated oil prices. Its all BS, the Free World Stands with Ukraine and we stand together.

speaking of ill gotten gains, time to talk about that elephant sitting over there casting a shadow on those of us who are either/or giving to Ukraine and/or a #FELLA and part of #NAFO. It seems a fair number of people got scammed. Maybe she was also a victim maybe she wasn't.

what I do know for sure is that I was not scammed. I won't give to someone and then not promote their efforts. Ya'll know who I promote: @MriyaAid, @U24_gov_ua, @UkraineAidOps, @3xR_team for charities plus @Teoyaomiquu's efforts to support the 92nd Brigade, the @georgian_legion,

and the @belwarriors. I also buy merch from @saintjavelin. Additionally @Official_NAFO has a list of trust worthy ways to give that make sure the money you part with lands up where it can help Ukraine. There is a trust worthy outlet for however you feel like giving. Don't be

scared to give, just be smart about it and use the resources you have to discern the legit from the cons. Like I said last night supporting Ukraine is not a hobby its a pledge. We all have a role to play and each thing we do matters. Maybe not much, but it matters. You matter,

collectively we are showing the world and our leaders that Ukraine matters. Until Ukraine Wins On Ukraine's Terms: Slava Ukraini! #RussiaIsATerroristState #RussiaIsLosing #RussiaIsANaziState #ukrainecounteroffensive #UkraineWar

@mfa_russia <--- still losing and now your own soldiers would rather shoot themselves than face Ukrainian wrath.

@mfa_russia @threadreaderapp unroll please