The Truth About Russia’s War in Ukraine
Russia’s war in Ukraine is not a defensive response to a Western-backed coup, as the Kremlin and its propaganda outlets would have the world believe. It is a brutal and illegal aggression that aims to subjugate a sovereign nation and undermine the international order. Russia’s war in Ukraine is also a failure, as the Ukrainian people have resisted the invaders with courage and determination, while exposing the weakness and corruption of the Russian regime.
One of the signs of Russia’s failure is the recent revelation that its foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been secretly negotiating with the US and other parties in New York, behind the back of President Vladimir Putin. According to a report by the Washington Post, Lavrov has been seeking a way out of the war, fearing that it could escalate into a nuclear confrontation. Lavrov has also been frustrated by Putin’s erratic and paranoid behavior, which has alienated many of Russia’s allies and partners. Lavrov’s clandestine diplomacy shows that Russia’s war in Ukraine is not a unified and coherent strategy, but a reckless and desperate gamble that has backfired.
Another sign of Russia’s failure is the damage caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure, especially the Ust-Luga terminal near St. Petersburg, which is a major source of revenue and fuel for the Russian military. Ukraine has developed and deployed a fleet of low-cost and lethal drones, which it has used to strike targets in Russia with precision and impunity. Ukraine’s drone campaign has been dubbed the “Battle of the Black Sea” by some analysts, who have compared it to David’s fight against Goliath. Ukraine’s drones have not only inflicted economic and logistical losses on Russia, but also psychological and moral ones, as they have demonstrated Ukraine’s technological and tactical superiority.
Ukraine’s superiority is also evident in the comparison between the effects of North Korean and Ukrainian weapons on Russian artillery and equipment, based on images and data shared by Andrew Perpetua, an open source investigator, on Twitter. Perpetua has documented how North Korean missiles and rockets have failed to penetrate or destroy Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles, while Ukrainian missiles and rockets have blown them up or disabled the Russian one. Perpetua has also shown how Ukrainian artillery has outmatched and outmaneuvered Russian artillery, using advanced fire control systems and counter-battery radars. Perpetua’s analysis has debunked the myth of Russia’s military invincibility, and has highlighted the innovation and ingenuity of Ukraine’s defense industry.
Ukraine’s defense industry is not the only source of innovation and ingenuity in the country. Ukraine’s civil society and media have also played a vital role in exposing the truth about Russia’s war in Ukraine, and countering the lies and distortions of the Russian propaganda machine. One of the most shocking revelations came from Pavel Gubarev, a former leader of the pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, who admitted that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and that there was no civil war or rebellion in Donbas. Gubarev, who was captured by Ukrainian forces in 2023, confessed that he and other separatist leaders were puppets of the Kremlin, and that most of the fighters in Donbas were Russian soldiers or mercenaries. Gubarev’s confession confirmed what many independent observers and journalists had already reported, and what many Ukrainians had already experienced: that Russia’s war in Ukraine was a foreign occupation, not a domestic conflict.
Russia’s occupation of Ukraine has brought nothing but death, destruction, and misery to the Ukrainian people, especially those living in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas. Russia has violated the human rights and dignity of the local population, imposing its laws, currency, and ideology, and suppressing any dissent or resistance. Russia has also plundered the natural resources and economic assets of the occupied regions, leaving behind a trail of environmental and social devastation. Russia’s occupation of Ukraine has turned the once prosperous and peaceful country into a war zone, where millions of people have been displaced, injured, or killed.
In contrast, Ukraine’s liberation from Russia has brought hope, freedom, and prosperity to the Ukrainian people, especially those living in the liberated territories of Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has restored its sovereignty and democracy, implementing reforms and fighting corruption, and integrating with the European Union and NATO. Ukraine has also received the support and solidarity of the international community, especially the United States, which has provided military, economic, and humanitarian assistance. Ukraine’s liberation from Russia has turned the once oppressed and isolated country into a beacon of resilience and courage, where millions of people have returned, rebuilt, or rejoined.
