“On Monday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it had recorded 1,793 deaths and 2,439 injuries to civilians in all of Ukraine since the war began on February 24.” tragic, but–
https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/how-much-are-we-prepared-to-sacrifice?s=w
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/02/06/understanding-russia-un-demonizing-putin/
http://harry-the-great.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-brief-guide-to-russian-psyche.html
from the last link: “The basic values of American society are “freedom” and “democracy.” The basic values of Russian society are the interactive understanding of “truth” and “justice.” In Russian “truth” implies not only the truth (truth — veritas), but also a form of moral superiority. I would also say that in the Russian lexicon “truth” is a hybrid between “truth” and “God’s blessing.” The one who is right is always victorious. Commitment to the concept of “truth” and “justice” gives birth to legal nihilism in Russia and its outright contempt for the international political system, if, in the opinion of Russians, if there is no “truth” behind decisions taken (even if legally such decisions are impeccably garbed). Appeals to “freedom”, “democracy”, “the right of nations to self-determination”, etc., which are self-evident to most Americans, when presented to a Russian who will view it as a verbal ploy designed to hide the absence of “truth”.”
If the last two articles are to be believed: Ukraine was and is a failed state. Literally, figuratively. A human rights disaster ready to happen happening. Yugoslavia 2.0. May as well go out with a bang‽ Add in the potential haranguing / blackmail of Biden via Hunter, US Oil and pipeline interests, starting of a multipolar world, etc., etc.. Russian pressure to keep malorussia dependent (energy, fiscally), or at least continually handicapped. Was any other outcome but war possible? Ukraine has been slowly decaying, rotting from the inside out (via corruption), kept divided and weak … by both East and West –
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/04/the-global-fertilizer-shortage-is-already-wreaking-havoc-in-latin-america.html
bonus track: