Battling Russia's eastern onslaught, Ukraine gets long-range U.S. firepower
NBCSep 09, 2022
Day 98 Roundup: Ukrainian Forces Largely Withdraw from Severodonetsk; US, Germany to Send More Weapons to Ukraine
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Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images [via The Washington Post]
The Facts
Ukrainian forces have reportedly largely withdrawn from the Luhansk city of Severodonetsk, with the city's mayor Oleksandr Stryukr on Wed. saying they control only 20%. Russian forces control 60%, with the remainder being "no-man's land," according to Stryukr.
If Russian forces fully capture Severodonetsk, neighboring Lysychansk will be the only urban area of any size in Luhansk to remain under Ukrainian control.
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 rewrite history.
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.
