Thread by @JBelcourt73

Lets talk partisans, no not the political ones, the Ukrianian ones. From knife in the back teams to grandma's with cell phones partisans have been active in this war. Likely often teamed up with stay behinds and SOF teams they fill a few critical roles. First is the kinetic side

partisan warfare: assassinations, sabotage, small unit battles. This has been going on since the war began. We have all seen the reports of X or Y Russian official or collaborator getting blown up, or the reports of isolated Russian troops getting knifed on the darkened streets

of Kherson etc. Kinetic actions serve two primary functions. First is to aid the main war effort. A supply convoy that gets ambushed or hits an IED/minefield can't add to the fight at the front line. Occupation troops detailed off to fight partisans can't fight the Ukrainian Army

and the more the occupier tries to secure his rear areas the less combat power he has available to extend the area he occupies. The other side of the kinetic actions are to maintain a government presence. When an occupation official or collaborator gets the axe its a reminder to

everyone else that the occupation is not complete and that assuming it is can be deadly. This deters things like more collaboration, tax collection, economic activity and other things that would aid the invader. Thirdly kinetic activity helps foster the clandestine side of things

that they do. For example, even if a shop owner would prefer to sit it out, passing on info to the partisans or paying taxes aid the partisan effort. The clandestine side includes gathering intelligence, spreading propaganda and keeping a wedge between the occupiers

and the locals. So lets talk about those 3 things. Recently a Chechen/Wagner base was hit. HIMARS did the killing but who do you think provided the targeting data? As an aside, the strike may also have served to divert attention away from a bridge that was then targeted for

demolition in a very kinetic way. Hundreds of Russian assembly areas, depots and command posts have been targeted. Many of them using intel provided by partisans. Though its more than just the big showy targets. Since anyone can be a partisan is that lady cleaning your company

commander's boots or the boy begging for food outside the wire also counting tanks and logging patrol schedules? Areas heavily infested by partisans mean the occupier is strong where they are and have some local influence but the farther from the base, the less control they have

and as partisan activity goes up the zone of local control shrinks down to the street the patrol is standing on in some cases. It becomes impossible for the occupier to move without the partisans knowing. Think the boy with the radio in Black Hawk Down. Thats how easy it can be

gather intel. Relaying it by radio, cellphone ap, Starlink terminal messengers etc back to higher command and eventually to the Ukrainian government. Partisans help the government build a much more complete picture of where the Russians are, what they have, and what they are

doing there. From chalk on a wall to full blown posters to some simple humanitarian good will gesture and even courts and tax collection keep the idea that Ukraine will be back front and center. The Russians know all this. They know every set of eyes could be a partisan, that

every road or bridge could be mined, that anyplace they gather is going to be visited by HIMARS. It keeps them isolated from the population. Can't win hearts and minds if you are scared of them. It also encourages repression and reprisals. When the Russians lash out and commit a

war crime, the net result is fewer Ukrainians willing to support Russia or sit on the sidelines. Every person filtered, tortured or disappeared has friends and family. By trying to stamp out partisan activity you actually encourage it. During WWII the Germans never eradicated

partisans. After WWII it took a Soviet Army and NKVD/KGB that did not have to divert its attention 10 years to eradicate the last of the partisans in Ukraine and the Baltics and some survived into the 1960's. The modern Russian Army is not the Soviet Army and its attention is

very much divided. A final thing partisans do is smuggle. They have to be able to get people and weapons in and often get people out like downed airmen, wounded comrades people with blown covers etc. This is the less sexy but still a critical role of the partisans.

So in summary Partisans: divert enemy resources, provide critical intelligence, disrupt pacification
efforts, maintain Ukrainian government presence in the occupied areas and provide a route for people and goods to move back and forth between the free and occupied areas. I think

it may well be worth @MriyaReport's effort to find an old Cold War green beret to talk about partisans. Fostering partisan movements to fight Russians is why JFK created them and they were initially filled with lots of WWII vets who fled communism. I hope ya'll enjoyed this essay

but honestly I look forward to the day when I don't have to sit here day after day trying to come up with some new and interesting topic I think will aid Ukraine. Of not having to tag @JohnBoozman, @SenTomCotton and @RepFrenchHill every day telling them send more, send better and

send now. I look forward to the day when the warriors of Ukraine including the @georgian_legion and @belwarriors no longer face combat but are looking to the liberation of their homelands because Russia has been defeated. When the calls to donate to @MriyaAid, @U24_gov_ua

@LibertyUkraineF, @UkraineAidOps, and @3xR_team are to help rebuilding and demining. When the #FELLAS of #NAFO are not just talking about a beach party but actively buying tickets. I presume getting a visa stamp to visit Ukraine after hundreds to thousands of pro-Ukrainian tweets

won't be a problem. When there is no more genocide. That requires victory so Until Ukraine Wins On Ukraine's Terms: Slava Ukrani! @mfa_russia <--- still losing and maybe Putin should visit the occupied areas. I am sure the locals would give him a warm welcome.

@mfa_russia @threadreaderapp unroll please