[theold]

KIROV, Russia — In Kirov, a small city in the heart of western Russia, about 1,000 miles from the front lines in Ukraine, the war that initially few people wanted continues to fill graves in local cemeteries. But most residents now seem to agree with President Vladimir Putin that the bloodshed is necessary.

“The U.S. and NATO gave us no choice,” said Vlad, the commander of a Russian storm unit who has been wounded three times since signing a contract to join the military a year ago.

“I’m going back because I want my kids to be proud of me,” he said. “You have to raise patriotism. Otherwise, Russia will be eaten up.”

Korotaeva said. “We have to defend our state. We can’t just agree to being broken up.”

A visit to Kirov last month revealed that many Russians firmly believe that their country is fighting an existential war with the West, which has sent Ukraine more than $100 billion in military aid, including sophisticated weapons, to defend against Russia’s invasion — assistance that has sharply increased Russia’s casualties.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/202...t-ukraine/

[sgh]

They can rest assured Ukraine lands are slowly being chipped away day by day. Ukrainian soldiers are basically on backpedal defending. For the rare few moments where they stage counter attacks they are too small scale to make an overall impact to the entire north and east fronts.

Zelensky days are numbered and with US elections coming his impending doom is near.