Speak Loudly and Carry Someone Else’s Big Stick
American ConservativeDec 24, 2022
Day 332: 'Both Sides Have Massed Significant Forces' In Zaporizhzhia, UK Intelligence Says
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Image copyright: Reuters [via Reuters]
The Facts
Following days of increased shelling in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, the UK's defense ministry said that both Russia and Ukraine have "massed significant forces" in the region, signaling where the next battles in the nearly year-long conflict may take place. Zaporizhzhia is one of four regions Russia claimed to have annexed last year, in spite of not controlling its entire territory.
Elsewhere, the heaviest fighting took place near Kremmina in the Luhansk region, where the UK defense ministry said: "Ukraine has likely made small gains and successfully defended against a Russian counter-attack." In Bakhmut of Donetsk, the agency said: "Russian and Wagner proxy forces have likely been reconstituting in the town of Soledar, after capturing it earlier in the week."
The Spin
Pro-establishment 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 an 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.
