Russia Resumes Massive Missile Strikes as Ukraine Continues to Rely on Deadly, Senseless PR Stunts

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for January 1, 2024…

– Russia’s taking of the heavily fortified town of Maryinka demonstrates the futility of Kiev’s “dig-in” strategy;

– Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny has admitted that the likewise fortified city of Avdeevka will inevitably be taken by Russian forces;

– After months of stockpiling missiles, Russia has carried the first of what will likely be many large-scale strikes across Ukraine;

– Ukraine’s retaliation targeting Belgorod civilian targets is admittedly done solely for domestic “morale” and will only likely harden Russian resolve across all levels of Russian society;

– Ukraine’s strike on Crimea, destroying a landing ship, while a PR “victory,” demonstrates just how difficult it will be to “isolate” the peninsula considering the large number of ports and airfields Russia can use to supply both the civilian population and its military installations even without the Crimean Bridge and land-bridge;

– As Ukraine’s inevitable defeat becomes more widely accepted, NATO will have to decide whether to cut its losses and demonstrate to other proxies its lack of commitment or continue its commitment and demonstrate to its proxies that the collective West is simply, fundamentally weak;

References:

CNN – Satellite images show Russian navy ship burning after Ukrainian strike in Crimea (December 28, 2023):
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/28/eu…

Washington Post – The ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ was never alive, Ukrainian air force says (May 2022):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

BBC – Ukraine war: Kremlin says 20 dead after attack on Russian city (December 31, 2023):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe…

Business Insider – Drone attack on key Russian bomber highlights Ukraine’s ‘psychological’ reach deep within Russia’s own borders, experts say (August 2023):
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrai…

TASS – Zaluzhny concedes Ukrainian forces pulled out of Maryinka (December 26, 2023):
https://tass.com/world/1726707

Al Jazeera – Ukraine drives Russia back at sea and in the air, but concedes land (December 29, 2023):
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1…

Business Insider – Russians celebrated capturing a ghost town in Ukraine. Photos show how the war ruined it. (December 29, 2023):
https://www.businessinsider.com/photo…

Guardian – Kyiv’s drone strikes on Moscow mean Kremlin’s war can’t be ignored by Russians (August 2023):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

BBC – Ukraine war: Three ways the conflict could go in 2024 (December 29, 2023):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe…