Posted on 02/25/2022 9:53:58 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Russian President Vladimir Putin took to the airwaves to try to speed up his victory in Ukraine.
This account is from The Guardian.
Looking dead-eyed into the camera on Friday, Vladimir Putin gave one of the most bizarre speeches of his 22 years as Russia’s leader, a directive that managed to sound alarming even in a week when he has ordered tanks into Ukraine and missile strikes on Kyiv.
“Once again I speak to the Ukrainian soldiers,” he said, addressing his enemy. “Do not allow neo-Nazis and Banderites to use your children, your wives and the elderly as a human shield. Take power into your own hands. It seems that it will be easier for us to come to an agreement than with this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.”
There is no doubt that the Russians retain the initiative for the moment, but the Russian military operation shows signs of entering entropy. The Ukrainian Army’s likelihood of conducting a coup supporting the Russian invasion also looks pretty slim.
What follows is my assessment based on open-source materials.
VITALY SKAKUN IS A HERO AFTER SACRIFICING HIS LIFE TO BLOW UP THE HENICHESKY BRIDGE.
SKAKUN RADIOED HIS UNIT AND TOLD THEM HE WOULD DO IT MANUALLY, SAYING GOODBYE.
#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/jAA6LgXF2r— Ukraine_Updates (@World_SPACE_EYE) February 25, 2022
None of this says Ukraine will prevail; what it does say is that the 48-hour blitzkrieg that culminated in Zelensky fleeing Kiev Putin planned doesn’t seem likely to materialize. As a result, Putin now is in the position of bringing this adventure to a swift conclusion or paying a much higher price than he’d intended.
You may get a coup, Vlad, but it may not be the one you want.
Apparently Putin didn’t or couldn’t buy off the Ukrainian politicians and military with secret bank accounts and villas in Cyprus.
+1
Its fog of war until the next week imo. Can’t tell what to believe until boots have either marched through Kyiv or bogged down.
This weekend is the deadline for Putin to prove his military is capable of easily conquering Ukraine.
Sad thing is his sacrifice could have been totally avoided.
These safeguards last-ditch measures could have been installed days prior.
The Russians had their arses kicked by the Mujahadeen. The Ukrainians are much better equipped and greater in number than the Mujahadeen.
The sad part is we’re dealing with drug addicts and neo-Nazis right here at home.
The Russians will capture and/or execute Volodymyr Zelensky. That’ll end the invasion.
“If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
My bet is it’ll be done in 24 hours. There is no panic.
this is my position as well.
everything on network tv serves a function in Narrative.
presumably the narrative’s purpose at present is to generate support among americans for starting WWIII to help ukraine.
And the Sedition Laws that will come with it.
yes there is that pesky election problem to work out before too late. the ideas they must have tossed around which would justify measures to address this are the stuff of nightmares.
bill gates’ smallpox epidemic
tossing bombs back and forth with russia
other domestic angle
Nope. Putin has basically created the Ukrainian nation. Until 2014 they were like “meeh”. Today they are Ukrainian and willing to fight Putin.
Of the thousands of refugees coming into Poland, next to none are men or fighting age women. Only women and children.
The men are staying back to fight Putin
even if Russia wins, it’s not worth it
I’d like to believe this. But, it just doesn’t make sense. Why would Putin panic? He’s got the Germans playing hide and seek, Biteme is off to La La Land, and he has a massive military he doesn’t give a brown turd about ready to seize a few trillion dollars in natural resources.
Putin had his soldiers sleeping in tents or makeshift quarters in the winter for weeks and eating field rations before giving the invasion order
Gotta be a lot of COVID-19 among his troops, obviously not going to be fatal for young people but with weakened immune systems could be that many are fatigued and miserably sick
I saw on Russian social media people saying Putin dedicated a special ceremony for Russian soldiers killed in the operation
Having fighters is one thing; having the logistical train to support them is quite another.
Combat arms win battles; the logisticians win wars. If Ukraine can cut off food, ammo, medical supplies, etc., that bodes well for the Ukrainian military.
Putin dedicated a special ceremony for Russian soldiers killed in the operation
sorry, I should have typed cemetery, Putin dedicated a cemetery not a ceremony although I suppose the dedication was a ceremony
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.