The Ukraine spirit is indominable - here's a photo by Marcus Yam, LA Times, of a soldier saluting his fellows near Kyiv.
So, talking to people in various parts of Ukraine today, the mood is— we have to win in 3 weeks so planting season is not delayed.
— Kateryna Yushchenko π» πΊπ¦ (@KatyaYushchenko) March 18, 2022
Here's a fascinating BBC interview with a Canadian soldier about the kind of fighting the Ukraine army has been trained for -"what shines through is the will and determination and strength" of the Ukraine soldier:Sumy comedians held a stand-up show in a bomb shelter.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 19, 2022
Three comedians performed for about 100 viewers in one of the bomb shelters in Sumy, a regional capital in northern Ukraine, on March 19, according to local media outlet Cukr.
Photo: Lena Lion pic.twitter.com/Rdii3NmREM
I'm happy to see this mother and baby safe now at a hospital in Kyiv, though her haunted eyes get to me:They trained to defend.
— Canadian Forces in πΊπΈ (@CAFinUS) March 19, 2022
They know their land.
They know freedom.
If you thought it would be quick, you don’t know Ukrainians.#StandWithUkraineπΊπ¦
pic.twitter.com/DLW0p5KSht
Motherhood.
— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) March 19, 2022:
Ukraine, Europe, 2022 pic.twitter.com/LGyG6pIbBM
Something I've noticed over the past week or so here: almost every Ukrainian I spoke to has made it clear that they blame not only Putin, but the average Russian as much (or more) for this war. The view is: we overthrew our corrupt government, and they accept their murderous one.
— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) March 19, 2022
We know that Ukraine has pushed Russian forces away from Mykolaiv in Southern Ukraine, and halted any hope Russia has of capturing the grand city of Odesa anytime soon. We also have seen confirmed that they’ve pushed out to Posad-Pokrovske, half the distance from Mykolaiv to Kherson, the largest Ukrainian city currently under Russian control. And that’s where things get murky. Because either Ukraine has pushed east and has opened up a 2-prong approach into Kherson, or all they’ve managed to do is create a little breathing room around Mykolaiv.I get the impression it will take some time, maybe several more days, before anyone can determine whether Ukraine is actually "winning" this war, or just "not losing", and where this is happening. Rob Lee's thread today:
Mikolaiv is significant because Russia needs to take it if its forces are to seriously threaten Odesa, which appears to be a goal. However, the city continues to hold, and Russia has taken losses in the fighting. An amphibious landing would also be risky without further gains. 2/
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 18, 2022
If Russia can't take Mariupol or achieve serious successes around Kyiv and the JFO over the next two weeks, it will be increasingly unlikely that Russia will end this conflict with significant concessions from Kyiv (not just declaring no NATO membership). 13/
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 18, 2022
Here's some other news:If Russia doesn't achieve serious successes over the next 2 weeks, I think this conflict will stagnate as attrition will limit both sides' ability to conduct offensive operations. Without further advances, Russia won't be able to negotiate from a sufficient position of strength.
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 18, 2022
Here's something else I have noticed too: the vast difference between what the New York Times is reporting about this war, and what everyone else is reporting. If you read only the New York Times, it sounds like Russia is winning. But just about nobody else thinks so. Here's an interesting discussion about this:New: Russia has failed to gain air control over Ukraine and is largely depending on stand-off weapons, “launched from the relative safety of Russian airspace,” says UK MOD, “UKR Air Force and Air Defense are continuing to effectively defend Ukrainian airspace.”
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 20, 2022
And back on this side of the pond: Bob Rae is doing Canada proud at the United Nations. Today he writes:"Shape of earth: views differ" - Josh Marshall discusses why the New York Times says Russia is winning, while TPM & Kos & many others say Ukraine is winning. https://t.co/X3GBTlIaK1 via @TPM
— Cathie from Canada π¨π¦ π·π³️π (@CathieCanada) March 20, 2022
#PutinsWar was started by him, against every rule in the book of law and morality. He must be stopped. His “war aims” are not limited, neither are his methods of cruelty and destruction. “#Justice without force is powerless. Force without justice is tyranny” (Pascal)./2
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) March 19, 2022
It cannot go unresisted, undeterred, and unpunished. Unless we stop him, #PutinsWar will make a desert of #Ukraine and call it “victory” and “peace”. We cannot let him succeed.
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) March 19, 2022
Like an ancient dinosaur rising from a swamp, Newt Gingrich is trying to rear his ugly head again:Every time Republicans worry that President Biden is getting positive press, here comes Hunter's laptop.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 18, 2022
Such bullshit.
You don't get to be on Team Putin and criticize the one US administration that has ever truly stood up to Putin, the one that has mounted the toughest ever response to his abuses, the one that has led the strongest ever modern effort among our allies. Sit down, Newt.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) March 19, 2022
And finally, we've all seen way too much of the instant geopolitical experts gracing us with their opinions, so I found this thread hilarious -- check it out:Propaganda is powerful. We in the US are very familiar. pic.twitter.com/Hq13jaak91
— Nick Knudsen πΊπΈπΊπ¦ (@NickKnudsenUS) March 19, 2022
I once had Russian Dressing on a sandwich, here's how I see Putin's endgame, (1/27)
— Kerthorok πΊπ¦ (@Kerthorok) March 17, 2022