'This War Will End In Regime Change -- in Moscow'
In Ukraine, Russia and across the globe, resistance to Putin stands firm
Vladimir Putin's long-anticipated launch of a widespread invasion of Ukraine has, also, in the past 24 hours or so brought true profiles in courage into our homes from across the globe.
There were hundreds — thousands — of courageous Russians willing to brave freezing temperatures, and the very real possibility of arrest, at home in their country to protest their autocratic leader’s brutish and illegal invasion of their sovereign neighbor to the west.
There have been brave Ukrainian troops defending their homeland with remarkable strength against the Russian onslaught.
This includes those 13 scrappy border guards on Snake Island who made the ultimate sacrifice but will surely go down in history for the defiant profanity with which they answered the oncoming Russians.
And, then, there's been the flurry of official responses in capitals across Europe and around the world to rally to Ukraine's side and to ensure that Putin pays a dear price for this unwarranted aggression.
Indeed, some are saying that perhaps Putin has been caught unawares by the strength of the global stand against him.
“Putin underestimated the strength of Ukraine, the West, and the Russian people. So inspired by these brave freedom loving Russians!” one inspired Twitter user posted.
Others have echoed the same theme.
“Ukrainians are a proud people and they have the will to fight for their country. Putin has miscalculated. The Ukrainian people will continue to resist Russia from now until the day Russia gets kicked out of Ukraine. And the US and our allies will continue to support Ukraine,” Rep Ted Lieu (D-Calif) tweeted, attached to a transcript of the events from Snake Island.
“It's too early to say if Putin's evil overreach in Ukraine will finally lead to the end of his criminal, repressive dictatorship. But street protests across Russia today gave reason for hope,” said journalist and filmmaker Steven Beschloss.
Some, like historian and Maryville College associate professor Aaron Astor, were willing to be more definitive.
“Nobody is saying this, but I will: This war will end in regime change - in Moscow. It won't be from an external military invasion into Russia. It will be mutiny and internal collapse that will bring Putin's regime down. It won't be overnight but it will happen,” he tweeted.
Global protests against Putin's aggression
Putin's bloody surge into independent Ukraine Thursday clearly is not entirely popular at home, given the large protests which erupted in a number of Russian cities, including Putin's hometown of St Petersburg.
In just another sign of Putin's autocracy, police were called out to forcibly put an end to the demonstrations.
Protesting Russians were joined by those worldwide who have taken to the streets to oppose Putin's lawless imperialism.
“Go fuck yourself”
Inside Ukraine, troops have been putting up a tougher-than-expected go of it against the Russian onslaught.
But it was those 13 incredibly brave and defiant Ukrainian border guards on Snake Island in the Black Sea — just 25 miles from NATO territory — who have captured the world’s hearts and imaginations.
When Russian warship told the guards to stand down or face certain attack — and death — the guards simply told the Russians to “go fuck yourself.”
The 13 paid the ultimate price, and Ukraine's president declared them “heroes of Ukraine.”
“Russian training sucks”
It's actually not surprising that Ukraine has been proving a better match than expected against the Russian invasion, according a former commanding general of US Army forces in Europe.
“Russian training sucks (I say this having seen Russians train & seeing how they conduct ‘exercises’). Their [logistics] & intel is clumsy. Their soldiers are mostly 1-yr conscripts, not professionals, and they have a poor [non-commissioned officer] Corps. Their officers - for the most part - are terrible,” tweeted retired Lt Gen Mark Hertling.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops have steadily improved while Ukraine as a whole has developed alliances, Hertling said.
“Though Ukraine's initial defense wasn't great today, it will improve. Whether called an 'insurgency’ or a ‘guerilla war,’ [Ukraine] will wear down an enemy that already has low morale & an even lower support from their population back in mother [Russia] (see protests),” he added.
Don't discount the Russian Army's increasingly unwillingness to fight for Putin, Hertling said.
“They will see their cause as being suspect…if they don't already. And they will experience more battlefield deaths than they anticipated, which will cause even more protests at home,” he said.
“We feel very good about Biden right now”
Lastly, governmental officials at all levels are scrambling to meet Putin's aggression head-on.
US President Joe Biden has continued to rachet up economic sanctions to punish Putin.
“Every asset they have in America will be frozen, including VTB, the second largest bank in Russia,” Biden said.
In just one 24-hour period, Russia's billionaires lost $39 billion, according to Bloomberg News.
Ukraine's ambassador to the United States outlined three things that her country needs in the way of help:
Crippling sanctions against Russia
Weapons and military assistance
Humanitarian aid
At least one European lavished Biden and his response with praise.
“I'm European. You have a POTUS who coordinates his response with his allies in a very balanced, competent way. He’s strong & acts upon our shared needs. This isn’t a US obligated to save the world, it’s a US that acts in unison with the EU. We feel very good about Biden right now,” this European Twitter user posted.
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