Putin's missile barrage on Ukraine showed weakness instead of strength, former speechwriter says. 'There's nothing else the army can do.'
Business InsiderDec 23, 2022
The Facts
The US and Germany have vowed to urgently deliver advanced missile defense systems to Ukraine following a wave of Russian attacks across the country on Monday. While the US didn't publicly specify which systems would be sent, Germany announced it would deliver four IRIS-T SLM systems – reportedly capable of defending against missiles at a range of up to 25 miles (40 km).
Ukrainian officials said a total of 19 people were killed and 105 were injured in Monday's attacks, which spanned across 12 regions and the city of Kyiv. They added that as many as 301 settlements remain without electricity. The bombings were widely condemned by officials from Ukraine, Europe, the US, and elsewhere.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Russia's missile strikes across Ukraine are a cynical response to the attack on the Crimean Bridge; they served little to no military value but were intended to strike fear into Ukraine’s leadership and its civilian population.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia's strikes served a clear purpose - they met terrorist attacks on Russian territory with a firm and decisive response. If this unflinching message goes unheard, and more terrorist acts continue, only the Ukrainian leadership will be responsible for the consequences.