Day 22 Close: Ukraine Launches Successful Counterattacks, Siege on Mariupol Continues

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    Image copyright: Maxar Technologies [via The Independent]

    The Facts

    • Russian forces continued to make territorial gains around Mariupol on Thurs., and are increasingly bombing residential areas. People are now being brought safely from the rubble of a theater destroyed yesterday, however, after hours of uncertain rescue efforts. The number of casualties remains unclear.

    • Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces northwest of Kyiv reportedly launched several local counterattacks against Russian forces, inflicting heavy damage. Earlier in the day, one person was killed and three others wounded after debris from a downed missile hit a residential building in the city.

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    The Spin

    Anti-Russia narrative

    This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to re-write history.

    PBS NewsHour

    Pro-Russia narrative

    NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.

    Newsweek

    Metaculus Prediction

    Establishment split

    CRITICAL

    PRO

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