Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Why did Dr. Oz lose? well, according to the exit polls, it’s because Fetterman won.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

In my day, never was longer.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

T R E 4 5 O N

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 299: Let’s Give the Artist the Credit He Is Due

War for Ukraine Day 299: Let’s Give the Artist the Credit He Is Due

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Last night I started the post with the image above and I linked to where I had found it. Another Scott informed us in a comment last night that the artist is NEIVANMADE. Here’s the tweet where he posted the image above:

There was a lively discussion of what the picture is supposed to depict. My take is that it has a dual meaning. The first is that because the imperial Russian crest includes a crowned two headed eagle – often referred to as the double eagle – the Ukrainian Soldier is crushing each of the eagle’s heads. Though in this case the eagle is a snake trying to crush the life out of Bakhmut. You’ll notice that in the depiction above, the cross that would normally be at the top of each crown has been replaced by Putin’s Z symbol, which we all recall is supposed to be a stylized 77 with the two 7s attached to each other. You can see the double eagle symbolism in this other piece by NEIVANMADE:

Though these eagles have lost their crowns.

The second part of the symbolism is to invoke the baby Heracles who was attacked by a pair of magical snakes sent by his stepmother Hera. He grabbed each by the throat and strangled them when they tried to strangle/crush him to death in his crib. This part of the symbolism also depicts the mighty – Herculean if you will – effort of Ukraine’s defenders against the Russian re-invaders.

Anyhow, click across and see all of his art. He’s also working on a Ukrainian tarot set for those of you into that sort of thing.

Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today’s morning in several regions and cities of our country was, unfortunately, spoiled by the characteristic sound of the Iranian Shaheds. But most of them luckily fell short of their intended targets, and that made our morning a little better today. 30 Shaheds were shot down – not bad

I thank all our anti-aircraft fighters, pilots, and mobile fire groups for this result and for the protection of the Ukrainian sky. And I am especially grateful to the 96th Kyiv and 208th Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigades, which showed the greatest accuracy today.

These Shaheds, which were used by Russia, are from a new batch of drones. This is the terrorist international of two regimes – they help fight against people.

Well, both of them will be held to account for it.

This week will be quite active for us in terms of international events and negotiations. I held several meetings today regarding these plans. We will fight to strengthen sanctions for all manifestations of terror against Ukrainians and to get additional support for our state and our defense forces.

Today I addressed the leaders of the ten states of Northern Europe united in The Joint Expeditionary Force. This is a format of cooperation initiated by Great Britain. It includes the Baltic states, Finland, Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Iceland and the United Kingdom itself. And my appeal today was very specific. Weapons, ammunition, new defense capabilities… Everything that will allow us to speed up the end of this war. Thank you to the participants of the summit for the fact that we were heard today – we are waiting for new decisions regarding the supply of new weapons.

The key task for all of us now – my task, and that of each of our diplomats and officials – is that world support for Ukraine next year not just remains at the same level as this year, but increases. Precisely under those indicators that are necessary to strengthen our defense operations.

This is artillery – we need more guns, shells, these are modern tanks that have not yet been delivered to Ukraine, these are longer-range MLRS, modern and truly effective air defense…

Please, if your opinion is heard in the media, if you support the state in the expert field, you too can help get everything that our defense forces need.

The main thing is to speak for Ukraine with one voice and defend our common interest: everything for the victory of Ukraine, everything to help our defense.

Bakhmut is the hottest spot on the entire frontline – more than 1300 km of active hostilities. Since May, the occupiers have been trying to break our Bakhmut, but time goes by and Bakhmut is already breaking not only the Russian army, but also the Russian mercenaries who came to replace the wasted army of the occupiers.

Just think about it: Russia has already lost almost 99 thousand of its soldiers in Ukraine. Soon there will be 100 thousand of the occupiers’ casualties. For what? No one in Moscow can answer this question. And they won’t.

They wage war and waste people’s lives, other people’s lives, not of their loved ones, not their own lives, but the lives of others only because a group in the Kremlin can’t admit mistakes and is terribly afraid of reality. But reality speaks for itself.

I thank all our fighters who are heroically holding the Bakhmut direction, Soledar, Avdiivka, Maryinka, Kreminna direction and the entire Donbas region, which was one of the strongest in Ukraine before Russia came, and which Russia is destroying to the scorched ground. Even such cruelty won’t give the enemy anything.

Today more consumers than yesterday are disconnected from electricity. Due to several drone hits in the morning.

But repairmen, as always, work very actively, around the clock. They are trying to restore power supply as soon as possible, at least at the level that generation can provide. It will be done.

And one more thing, which is especially important.

Today is Saint Nicholas Day – a traditional day when we all wish peace and warmth, reliable protection and victory.

I believe that Nicholas will hear us.

Today – just on Saint Nicholas Day  – the project by Ukrzaliznytsia and UNICEF started – a joint project that can bring a holiday to Ukrainian children. To those who live near the frontline and in the de-occupied areas. Special festive trains in three directions. Today – Donetsk region. On December 21, such a festive train leaves for the Kharkiv region. On the 23rd – Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. They bring festive performances and more than 30 thousand gifts.

Thank you to everyone at Ukrzaliznytsia, UNICEF and the government who organized this project.

I would also like to thank UNICEF separately for more than 100 million dollars of support for Ukrainian families. More than 120,000 families, in particular those raising four or more children, children with disabilities, can receive financial assistance.

In total, the program will cover more than 600,000 Ukrainians. Thank you for such support!

Thank you to all those who help our people in this terrible time! Thank you to everyone who protects Ukrainians!

And I want to turn now to all our friends and just conscientious people in Georgia.

Probably, everyone could see the health condition of Mikheil Saakashvili now. Therefore, I appeal to the people of Georgia, to the authorities of Georgia – it is necessary to show mercy, especially on the eve of Christmas. What is happening to Mykhailo now is cruelty. This does not suit Georgia. This must be stopped.

Please make a decision that can save his life. Transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to one of the clinics of Ukraine, another European country, America.

It is high time to take this good step.

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Kremenna and Bakhmut:

Someone in comments last night, I apologize for not remembering who – today was several Mondays stuffed into a single Monday – asked what is the point of the fight for Bakhmut. It’s been a long day, and I’ve got at least two more ahead of me this week, so just a brief answer/explainer. The short answer is that Bakhmut is something of a strategic hub. If the Russians could take and hold it, then they’d protect their own logistical lines while also establishing a more advantageous theater strategic position for a potential late winter/early spring campaign. If the Ukrainians can repulse the Russians, hold it, then further fortify it, they control a railway that runs through it, as well as a number of key highways and roads. You can see that on the map. You’ve got the H-32 that runs in from west to east into Bakhmut. You’ve got the rail line. You’ve got the M-03 that runs just north of Bakhmut and then off to the southeast. And you’ve got the T-05-13 and the T-13-02. For the Russians, especially the Wagner bubbas, taking and holding Bakhmut is central to whatever actual plans Prigozhin has as he jockeys for position. For the Ukrainians it means ensuring that the Russians cannot control and therefore cannot make use of the rail line and the highways running into, through, and around Bakhmut.

The Associated Press has the details:

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Jews in Ukraine waging a “war between darkness and light” lit a giant menorah on Sunday night to start the eight-day Hanukkah holiday as tens of thousands remained without electricity and Russia’s nearly 10-month war produced new victims.

Dozens gathered in Maidan Independence Square in the capital, Kyiv, at sundown to light the first candle of what local Jewish leaders say is Europe’s tallest menorah. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko joined ambassadors from Israel, the United States, Japan, Poland, Canada and France in a ceremony organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine. They sang blessings under the flames of the menorah, which towered over the crowd and passing cars in frigid weather.

Rabbi Mayer Stambler, a leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community, drew parallels to the story of Hanukkah, an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians more than 2,000 years ago. When only enough oil was available to keep the temple candles lit for one day and night, the oil inexplicably burned for eight days and eight nights — a feat now celebrated as the Jewish Festival of Lights.

“We are actually now living through the same situation,” said Stambler, drawing a parallel with the current blackouts in Ukraine that Russian bombardments have caused. “This is a war between darkness and light.”

In congratulating the world’s Jews on Hanukkah, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, also noted the holiday’s inspiration for his people.

“Those who were fewer defeated those who were more. Light defeated darkness. It will be the same this time,” he vowed in a video address late Sunday.

Among those watching the Kyiv menorah lighting was 47-year-old Viktoria Herman, who said the festival of lights brought her hope during the December days with the least sunlight of the year.

“There will be light and everything will be fine for everyone. And finally the war will end,” she said.

With the holiday symbolism as a backdrop, Ukraine’s state-owned power grid operator Ukrenergo said it was still working Sunday to restore electricity knocked out by Russian missile damage. The grid operator said the volume of electricity consumption increased compared to Saturday, due to falling temperatures.

Zelenskyy reported that power had been restored Sunday to 3 million Ukrainians, on top of 6 million the day before.

Much more at the link!

Speaking of light in the darkness, here’s some excerpts from an essay by Council for European Policy Analysis fellow and Kyiv Independent correspondent Olga Tokariuk:

If you need an illustration of how everyday life in Ukraine differs from the rest of Europe, consider the elevators.

Power cuts brought on by Russia’s attacks against the civilian energy infrastructure are now so frequent, so long and unpredictable, that people are often stuck in elevators for extended periods. Residents of apartment blocks have therefore started leaving boxes with food and hygiene items, such as baby diapers, in elevators for their neighbors in case they are trapped.

Life is difficult across Ukraine. My mom, who is in her 70s and lives in a town in Western Ukraine, now leaves her sixth-floor apartment only when it’s strictly necessary. It reminds her of Covid lockdown, she says, but it’s worse.

When we spoke recently, she said they had neither electricity, nor running water because the water pumps fail when the power fails. The Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in Western Ukraine, has urged residents of apartment blocks to move to villages for the winter; it would be easier to survive there in case of power cuts which might last “for days”, he said.

Nine months after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine is bracing itself for the most difficult winter in its post-independence history as Russian missile attacks on its energy infrastructure intensify. On November 23 alone, Russia fired 70 missiles across Ukraine, plunging the capital Kyiv into an almost total blackout and forcing its residents to queue for water and to use snow melt, as the water supply failed. A week earlier, on November 15, more than 100 Russian missiles were fired: the biggest attack since the start of the full-scale invasion. On November 27, President Zelenskyy warned there were more attacks to come.

The Kremlin truthlessly intones that its missiles are aimed at military targets, but like much of its propaganda, this is transparently false. Vladimir Putin and his generals, cheered on by the propagandists who nightly demand attacks on the civilian population, aim to reduce the country to a pre-modern state, without any of the amenities of 21st century life. They hope to bomb Ukrainians into submission.

As a result of Russia’s assaults, which have been underway since early October, half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged, officials said. Entire cities are plunged into darkness from afternoon until morning. Streetlights go off, entire buildings are doused in darkness, and pedestrians use headlamps to be seen. Internet and mobile connections are spotty, and there are disruptions with heating and water supply. People in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and other Ukrainian cities and villages stock up on candles, non-perishable goods and, if they are lucky and wealthy enough, portable phone batteries and generators.

But if the Kremlin thinks that Ukrainians are weakening and that the cold and the hardship it inflicts will cause a collapse in the will to fight, they are badly mistaken.

It’s exactly the experience of hardship that helps Ukrainians to resist today, when their country faces a threat to erase its existence. Ukrainians will not surrender so much as an inch of their territory. Ukraine is winning on the battlefield and people are aware that Russian missile attacks are a sign of desperation.

Recent images from liberated Kherson, which has been under Russian occupation for eight months, make plain how Ukrainians feel: there were jubilant scenes, kisses, and flowers for the soldiers, grannies pleading with them “never to leave us alone again.” There were Ukrainian flags, hidden under the pavement tiles, dug out and reinstated on the streets.

And, inevitably, as the Russians retreated, more atrocities were discovered: the sites of torture chambers uncovered, the bodies of the executed exhumed from mass graves. Just as in Bucha, Izyum, and every other town where the Russians have set foot.

That’s why Ukrainians know they cannot surrender: they know Russia’s victory would bring greater repression, along with still more death and destruction. Seeing these atrocities makes them even more determined to defend their right to live in a free, independent, and democratic country.

The world must stand with Ukraine, despite the fatigue and the approaching winter. The democratic world has sent more and better air and missile defense systems and they are working well. But Russian and Iranian missiles are still getting through, and more help is needed to protect the surviving infrastructure.

Ukraine is asking for more military equipment, such as advanced combat aircraft, main battle tanks, and longer-range ballistic missiles like ATACMS. The mere presence on Ukraine’s territory of weapons capable of destroying Russian missile launcher sites would serve as a powerful deterrent, Ukrainian officials believe. While weapons systems have been arriving, the pace of supply makes little sense unless our Western friends are still more worried about the defeat of Russia than about the defeat of Ukraine.

Such a judgment would be flawed. Ukraine will fight on regardless. Our people have already made the choice that “It’s better to live without electricity if it means living without Russians.” This quote, from President Zelenskyy, is repeated every day, like a sermon, by millions in the darkness of Ukraine.

More at the link!

I meant to post the following thread yesterday. Sorry for the delay,

If there were 144 of this guy, you’d have gross stupidity!

That’s enough for tonight!

Your daily Patron!

There are still no new tweets or TikTok videos from Patron’s official accounts. So I’m going to repost his appeal from a couple of days ago:

And I found this tweet from September with video I’d not seen before:

Also, stocking stuffers!

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

31Comments

  1. 1.

    Alison Rose

    For folks who don’t usually watch Zelenskyy’s address but just read the transcript, be sure to watch this one, because when he discusses the UNICEF trains, they show footage of them and it’s very lovely and wonderful to see!

    The menorah lighting is beautiful, too, and I hadn’t seen this elsewhere, so thank you for including it, Adam. Also too, makes me feel a little better about my electric menorah. Listen, I have a very curious and not always smart cat, plus I hate cleaning up candle wax.

    This bit:

    They wage war and waste people’s lives, other people’s lives, not of their loved ones, not their own lives, but the lives of others only because a group in the Kremlin can’t admit mistakes and is terribly afraid of reality. But reality speaks for itself.

    I really just love the way he puts things. Straightforward and simple, but incredibly powerful all the same.

    Thank you as always, Adam. Hope these long days aren’t taking too much out of you.

  2. 2.

    Ksmiami

    I’ve written, donated etc, but Adam, if you know any influencers, please tell the Administration to step on the gas and be unafraid of Russian retaliation- Ukraine needs to win, then we need to put nukes at their border. Fuck Russia, miserable excuse for a country.

  3. 3.

    dr. luba

    The two headed “chicken” has been a common meme since the invasion. I’ve posted many in my FB groups, but not sure how to share here….Will look for ways.

  4. 4.

    Carlo Graziani

    Adam, all Russian-controlled rail lines in that region are interdicted. They couldn’t run trains through Bakhmut even uf they seized it, any more than they could through Lyman since at least July, if not earlier.

  5. 5.

    CaseyL

    Adam – I read these every night, but sometimes have nothing to say (other than a primal scream, which I keep to myself).

    I do want to thank you, so very much, for these posts.  Considering what it takes out of me to read them, compiling them must be… extremely difficult.

    Thinking of the fortitude Ukrainians, from their leaders to the most ordinary of citizens, have; the sheer moral, mental, and emotional strength to not lose their hope, their love, and their humanity, is profoundly humbling.

    I am deeply, truly pissed off that the US is not providing Ukraine with more and better assistance.

    Who are the leaders of the Free World?

    Ukrainians.  Without question, and without peer.

  6. 6.

    FelonyGovt

    @CaseyL: I also read these every night, although I don’t often have anything to comment, and I consider myself much better informed on Ukraine than most as a result. Thank you so much, Adam, we appreciate all the work that goes into compiling these.

  9. 9.

    Another Scott

    Thanks Adam.

    I was curious after reading your excellent discussion, so I did some more poking around. GettyImages:

    Ukrainian artist Mikhailo Skop, who also goes by the name neivanmade, shows off a poster in his war-inspired Tarot series at Lviv Art Centre on April 22, 2022. – Many Ukrainian artists in Lviv are employing their talent to record the horrors of Russian invasion, call for the world’s attention, or simply support those affected.

    He’s a great talent.

    ArtforUkraine has some of his work on black T-shirts.

    Slava Ukraini!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  10. 10.

    oldster

    Today I signed up for a Patreon that funds the Kyiv Independent, an English language newspaper published in Ukraine. I have read a lot of their tweets and some of their articles, so I thought I should help them keep running and reporting.

    Thanks for you work in aggregating, Adam. And happy holidays to you.

  11. 11.

    jackmac

    During President Zelenskyy’s speech citing the latest strikes by Russia using Iranian Shaheds he pointedly said that “both of them (Russia and Iran) will be held to account for it.”

    Adam, you have have addressed this in previous posts so my apologies for any repetition. But what options does Ukraine actually have to counter or discourage or even halt deliveries of Iranian weaponry to Russia?

    Also, thank you for all your efforts to supply such comprehensive and informative nightly reports.

  12. 12.

    Carlo Graziani

    Ukraine is asking for more military equipment, such as advanced combat aircraft, main battle tanks, and longer-range ballistic missiles like ATACMS. The mere presence on Ukraine’s territory of weapons capable of destroying Russian missile launcher sites would serve as a powerful deterrent, Ukrainian officials believe. While weapons systems have been arriving, the pace of supply makes little sense unless our Western friends are still more worried about the defeat of Russia than about the defeat of Ukraine.

    I was playing around with Google Maps the other day, and noticed that the 150 km range of the new GLSDB missiles supposedly being discussed/prepared/approval-chained for Ukraine (the process is in some obscure state in some Pentagon basement) would allow Ukraine to hit not only the railyard at Dzhankoi (Crimea), but also Belgorod, Kursk, and Taganrog, in Russia, as well as every entry point from Russia on the Ukrainian rail network, and all of the Luhansk city environs, which is the last safe Russian strongpoint in Ukraine.

    Which is to say, no need to wait for ATACMS to shut off all Russian logistical rail supply to Ukraine, retaliate against Russian military targets in Russia, and put the fear of God in every Russian soldier in Ukraine standing next to more than three crates of artillery ammunition.

    It should be quite a show. I can’t wait.

  13. 13.

    Alison Rose

    @oldster: I’ve been supporting them on Patreon for a little while, and it’s very much worth it. They have a great podcast and one of the perks you get as a patron is exclusive extended interviews and such, and I’ve found them very informative and enlightening.

  15. 15.

    Bill Arnold

    Russia appears to already be worried about use by Ukraine of longer range weapons:
    GPS Signals Are Being Disrupted in Russian Cities – Navigation system monitors have seen a recent uptick in interruptions since Ukraine began launching long-range drone attacks. (15.12.2022 12:00 PM)
    (Bold mine)

    The GPS issues were first spotted by the monitoring system GPSJam, which uses data from planes to track problems with the satellite navigation system. The website has logged an increasing number of GPS disturbances in the Russian cities of Saratov, Volgograd, and Penza since the start of December. All of the cities are in western Russia and within hundreds of kilometers of the border with Ukraine.
    On December 5, GPSJam logged a limited amount of GPS interference in Russia—the majority of registered interference took place around Moscow, where the Kremlin for years has tampered with GPS connections. However, since December 11, multiple areas of the country have faced GPS disruption, data gathered by GPSJam shows. In addition, wireless data analytics firm Aurora Insight measured an increase in GPS signal levels in the area at the start of December—a sign that potential GPS interference could have happened.

  18. 18.

    Another Scott

    @Carlo Graziani: VVP sounds like he’s getting worried.

    AlJazeera:

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the strengthening of Russia’s borders and instructed security services to keep greater control of society and root out “traitors, spies and saboteurs”, the country’s news agencies have reported.

    Speaking on Security Services Day, widely celebrated in Russia, Putin on Monday instructed his security officials to protect the borders, increase control of society, and maximise their “use of the operational, technical and personnel potential” to prevent risks coming from abroad and internal traitors.

    One wonders where he’s going to get all these people and materiel to carry out these orders. Especially since Lukashenko is still saying, er, No:

    ISW has previously assessed that Lukashenko uses the rhetoric of defending Belarusian borders against the West and NATO in an effort to avoid participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] Lukashenko had also used similar hints about the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus on February 17 in the context of claimed Western aggression.[4] Lukashenko noted that Russia will deliver S-400 air defense complexes and Iskander complexes, while Putin stated that both leaders discussed the formation of a united defense space.[5] ISW continues to assess that Belarus’ participation in Putin’s war against Ukraine remains unlikely.

    As you mention, given the increasing chatter about GLSDBs, he should be worried:

    The GLSDB would allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian military targets up to 150 km away with an accuracy of around one meter. With integration, the GLSDB can be fired by the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS rocket artillery systems already supplied to Ukraine by the United States and United Kingdom, respectively.

    But it can also be fired by non-traditional launchers, such as from the back of an ordinary-looking truck or from a nondescript shipping container hidden in plain sight. That would make it more difficult for Russian forces to find and destroy the system. The non-traditional launcher also makes the system a low-cost option to augment HIMARS, which US industry is currently racing to produce in order to both replace US launchers sent to Ukraine and meet demand from allies.

    One of the great advantages of the GLSDB is that the munition and rocket already exist in the US arsenal. Industry would only need to integrate the munition and rocket rather than undertaking the time-consuming process of establishing a new production line. Accordingly, depending on several factors, Ukraine could receive an initial delivery of two launchers and 24 weapons in as little as nine months after the Pentagon approves the plan. If industry and the Pentagon move with a sense of urgency and Congress provides assertive oversight, a decision now by the Department of Defense could see an estimated 750 GLSDBs and 12 launchers delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2024. That dramatic ramp up in production is possible because industry simply needs to integrate existing bombs and rockets rather than build new ones.

    (Emphasis added.)

    Thanks.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  21. 21.

    Eolirin

    @Chetan Murthy: I’m not sure Russia will have the resources necessary to continue fighting by 2024 given their current burn rates and production issues, plus their relative rate of casualties.

    But boy will they be great deterrents to a defeated Russia making another go at it.

  24. 24.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    I wish to support the artist Neivanmade, and thanks for the link to his t-shirts, which are obviously based on his images of the Major Arcana (but missing some important cards) but there are no links in English on how to purchase his Tarot cards.  Help!  Ps, I already have four sets of cards and do readings, but the artist’s imagery is powerful and so I want the set – the Wheel of Fortune shows a Ukrainian soldier going up and a Russian soldier going down. Thanks.  PS, Adam, as an art historian, your analysis of the image is spot on.

  26. 26.

    Anoniminous

    Eight months ago when the Russians first tried to take Bakhmut there was a certain logic. As Adam has already pointed out it is a railroad/highway nexus and could have become a useful logistics hub to support attacks on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Now it is a huge waste of Russian resources. The Russians bang away with artillery, send in company sized attacks, they get slaughtered, the Russians bang away with artillery … rinse … lather … repeat.

    Now we hear the Ukrainians have conducted a counter-attack and have re-taken the Russian gains over the last couple of months.

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