Joni Askola Profile picture
Sep 7, 2024 15 tweets 5 min read Read on X
1/15 Propaganda can't change the facts on the ground: russia is losing its war in Ukraine. Image
2/15 russia is involved in a war in Ukraine that it cannot win because its strategic goals are unreachable. As a result, it has no incentive to stop the invasion, as doing so would signify a defeat. By continuing the war, russia can avoid acknowledging that loss. Image
3/15 russia's objectives of 'denazification and demilitarization' require it to enforce a regime change and establish a pro-russian puppet government, accompanied by a russian military presence, to fulfill its strategic aims—an outcome that is very unlikely to occur. Image
4/15 russia currently controls significantly less territory in Ukraine than it did a month into the war, and it has failed to capture any of the 23 regional capitals and special status cities that Ukraine held at the onset of the invasion. That is pathetic at best! Image
5/15 russian propaganda has been highly effective at obscuring its numerous failures and fostering pessimism about the war. The presence of disinformation agents and unwitting supporters can be found throughout various spheres. Image
6/15 If we had been told in March 2022 what the situation would be in August 2024, we would have been astonished and regarded the current outcome as a significant victory for Ukraine and a massive defeat for russia. Image
7/15 russia is spending exorbitant sums on unscrupulous Western influencers to promote its propaganda and distract people from the fact that it is losing. If russia were winning, it wouldn't have to resort to such tactics. Image
8/15 Despite mobilizing 300,000 men, recruiting hundreds of thousands of volunteers, depleting its prisons, and conscripting men from occupied areas, russia has accomplished very little and has suffered over 600,000 total casualties. This failure will mark history! Image
9/15 russia has required significant economic support from countries like china and india, as well as military assistance from china, north korea, belarus, and iran, to sustain its efforts in the war thus far, all without coming anywhere near its strategic objectives. Image
10/15 russia has managed to maintain its unsuccessful invasion by relying on its extensive Soviet-era stockpiles of equipment. However, its losses far exceed its production rates, and these large reserves are gradually depleting. This will become a massive issue for russia. Image
11/15 russia has had to significantly raise wages and bonuses to recruit enough personnel for its war efforts. These costs are expected to continue rising, and the recruitment contributes to inflation due to the acute labor shortage in the country. Image
12/15 russia's inflation has worsened to the extent that it has had to raise its key interest rate from 7.5% in June 2023 to 18% now, with further increases likely needed in the future. This situation is expected to deteriorate as the war continues. Image
13/15 In 2023, Prigozhin and Wagner attempted a coup, but the russian population's response was minimal, similar to their lack of reaction when Ukraine seized parts of the Kursk region. This indicates that Putin's regime is not very stable. Image
14/15 The war will eventually come to an end when the average russian grows weary of the economic and human toll it has taken. While this may take some time, it will conclude with a humiliating defeat for russia. No amount of propaganda can alter that reality. Image

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More from @joni_askola

Sep 26
1/5 Russia’s economy is not fine.

It is in stagflation, with high inflation and low growth.

The war on Ukraine is draining resources and it is not sustainable.

Ukraine's strike campaign on Russian refineries is making things worse Image
2/5 Many Russians, especially outside big cities, have gained financially from the war.

The military and defense industry are overpaying to recruit.

This drives up wages and inflation.

The war economy feels good now but it has been overheating Image
3/5 Russia has a massive labor shortage.

Interest rates jumped from 7.5 percent to 21 percent to fight inflation.

Now they are at 17 percent to avoid killing the little growth left.

Reserves are depleted and frozen assets are unreachable Image
Read 5 tweets
Sep 24
1/11 How should Europe deal with Trump on Ukraine?

The strategy is clear, but hard to implement:

👉 Stop expecting anything from him
👉 Engage with him as much as possible

Not to win him over, but to extract whatever little help we can, and limit the damage he can do Image
2/11 Europe has been weak on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.

We let the US lead, even though Ukraine is a far more existential issue for us than for them Image
3/11 Then Trump came back.

US aid to Ukraine stopped.

No new sanctions on Russia.

No new support.

Just a lot of empty talk Image
Read 11 tweets
Sep 24
1/15 Despite what many think, time is not on Russia’s side in Ukraine.

The bad news is it might take a while to show.

Wars are slow-moving disasters, and Ukraine’s expanding strike campaign will be key to speeding up the reckoning Image
2/15 Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, we have seen plenty of bad analysis from both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian sides.

The pro-Russian side is way more dishonest, but the pro-Ukraine side has often been too optimistic.

Neither collapse ever happened Image
3/15 Russia’s resilience has surprised many.

But it is not mysterious.

It is built on support from China, Iran, North Korea, and Belarus, plus a war economy where Russia is all in, dissent is crushed, and propaganda dominates everything Image
Read 15 tweets
Sep 18
1/8 While Trump buys time for Russia, Ukraine is still winning the war.

This war has lasted more than 11 years, with 3.5 years as full-scale war.

Russia is further from its goals today than it was in 2022, 2021, or even 2014 Image
2/8 Russia’s strategic goal: turn Ukraine into a satellite state.

Reality: Ukraine is now more sovereign, more militarized, and more united than ever in its history.

This war has been a strategic failure for Russia Image
3/8 Russia has paid a massive price to fail:

•Over 1 million casualties
•A war economy
•Foreign troops, emptied prisons, mass mobilization
•Help from Iran, North Korea, China

And still: no strategic success Image
Read 8 tweets
Sep 17
1/9 Peter Thiel keeps preaching about the Antichrist.

Not to stop him. To summon him.

He’s laying the groundwork.

Private lectures. End-times rhetoric. Surveillance framed as salvation.

This isn’t just politics. It’s prophecy weaponized Image
2/9 Journalist @gilduran76 just published a deep dive into Thiel’s obsession with the Antichrist.

Thiel frames politics as cosmic war and draws from nazi-linked thinkers who saw democracy as a threat to divine order Image
3/9 This is no longer fringe.

Thiel’s allies like JD Vance and Blake Masters echo the same religious-nationalist rhetoric.

They are not just running for office.

They are running a crusade Image
Read 9 tweets
Sep 15
1/11 Why is Elon Musk pushing for civil war in the US and Europe?

This thread breaks down how Musk is using his platform, wealth, and influence to amplify far-right movements, incite political violence, and undermine democracy—across continents Image
2/11 Elon Musk is pushing for civil war in the West.

He’s not just amplifying far-right voices—he’s actively inciting political violence.

And he’s doing it with the power of X, his wealth, and global influence.

This is not just reckless. He’s out of control and dangerous Image
3/11 Musk openly supports far-right movements, including the most unhinged ones.

He praises nationalist leaders and criminals, boosts far-right parties in Europe, and appears alongside extremists like Tommy Robinson.

His rhetoric is increasingly militant and conspiratorial Image
Read 11 tweets

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