All I am gonna say is that reality seems to be intruding in the fantasy of one Vladimir Putin. I think this war is ever-so- maddening slowly coming to the end. Also, some Russians are starting to discuss how defeat will be portrayed. The end of the war in Ukraine…will open the troubles in Russia. They are already on, but will be obvious.
It’s not like trains are not burning already
Plays to Galeev’s scenario: Moscow occupied by having to fight the war they can’t disentangle from + local unrest. Meanwhile, regional governors apologize for the fact that <goods/personnel> can’t move along the rails because of problems the central government needs to help control <wrings hands in apology>, while distributing whatever goods and largess they can locally [making removal something that will fuel local discontent even if it can be done]. RU slides into failed state.
What told me the ‘end is near’ is a hundred something modern western battle tanks were promised (some already on way) and it was followed up with ‘and now let’s talk F16s - how many you want?’ … in the same week.
nadin brzezinski
Patrick McLaughlin
dryfly