The World Should Brace for a Long War in Ukraine
AtlanticDec 23, 2021
Day 17 Close: Northeast Kiyv Bombarded, Putin Targets Western Military Aid Shipments
Image copyright: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP [via Al Jazeera]
The Facts
Bombardment of northeastern Kiyv resumed on Sat, but no offensive operations were conducted in the northwest for a second day running. Russia made limited gains in Mariupol and continued shelling the city.
Ukraine reported that Russian forces conducted a new advance northeast from Kherson along the western bank of the Dnipro. They have also renewed efforts to fully encircle Chernihiv.
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.
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.