I'm starting to think that Russia might actually lose. It's the raw determination of the Ukrainian people to resist in contrast with the dubious morale of the Russian troops. All the Russians have left is crude artillery firepower to try and awe and intimidate, that may backfire with the Ukrainians, creating more bitterness and determination to resist. What is civilian morale like in Kyiv? Do the people believe that Kyiv will be attacked?
To your question, morale among us left in the city is high. Morale among the troops is high. Gary in London wrote that on Woman's Day, March 8, his mother-in-law along with thousands of women walked with a huge Ukrainian flag, singing patriotic songs, right past the occupying Russians.
A couple of Oksana's FB friends are still encouraging her to leave. They both know her through me, and I got a bit testy. Here's what I wrote about our staying:
Very shortly:
1) Russanovsky Sad is not on the road to anyplace. There is no place in five miles to cross the railroad tracks on our east, and there is a river on the west.
2) Kyiv is a city of 3.5 million people. A great many of them have guns. Any Russian occupying force would be under 20,000 people. The streets would be dangerous for them. They would have no reason to come through Russanovsky Sad.
3) The Russian plan was bad from the start. They are simply not making progress. The columns of tanks coming down from the northwest and northeast are stalled. The first airplanes I have heard in two weeks of war are our airplanes going out to shoot Russians – not the other way around.
4) Although you cannot believe Putin, you have to notice that he is softening his demands. He says Zelensky can stay. Zelensky says he can stay out of NATO. He is not demanding the return of Crimea. It sounds like they may find a way to end this war.
Please read my blogs, especially the things that I got from my friends Gary Jenkins, Bob Homans and others.
Respect the fact that I know something about war. I was born in World War II. I spent four years in the Army National Guard, then four in Vietnam. I spent four years with IBM serving the Army in Germany preparing for war against Russia. I have read a great deal about war. I have posted several reviews of books specifically about war with Russia.
I'm starting to think that Russia might actually lose. It's the raw determination of the Ukrainian people to resist in contrast with the dubious morale of the Russian troops. All the Russians have left is crude artillery firepower to try and awe and intimidate, that may backfire with the Ukrainians, creating more bitterness and determination to resist. What is civilian morale like in Kyiv? Do the people believe that Kyiv will be attacked?
To your question, morale among us left in the city is high. Morale among the troops is high. Gary in London wrote that on Woman's Day, March 8, his mother-in-law along with thousands of women walked with a huge Ukrainian flag, singing patriotic songs, right past the occupying Russians.
A couple of Oksana's FB friends are still encouraging her to leave. They both know her through me, and I got a bit testy. Here's what I wrote about our staying:
Very shortly:
1) Russanovsky Sad is not on the road to anyplace. There is no place in five miles to cross the railroad tracks on our east, and there is a river on the west.
2) Kyiv is a city of 3.5 million people. A great many of them have guns. Any Russian occupying force would be under 20,000 people. The streets would be dangerous for them. They would have no reason to come through Russanovsky Sad.
3) The Russian plan was bad from the start. They are simply not making progress. The columns of tanks coming down from the northwest and northeast are stalled. The first airplanes I have heard in two weeks of war are our airplanes going out to shoot Russians – not the other way around.
4) Although you cannot believe Putin, you have to notice that he is softening his demands. He says Zelensky can stay. Zelensky says he can stay out of NATO. He is not demanding the return of Crimea. It sounds like they may find a way to end this war.
Please read my blogs, especially the things that I got from my friends Gary Jenkins, Bob Homans and others.
Respect the fact that I know something about war. I was born in World War II. I spent four years in the Army National Guard, then four in Vietnam. I spent four years with IBM serving the Army in Germany preparing for war against Russia. I have read a great deal about war. I have posted several reviews of books specifically about war with Russia.