Within the weeks earlier than the assault on Ukraine, a dozen totally different buddies there instructed me it wouldn’t occur. (I used to be born in Soviet Ukraine; my household fled within the Seventies.) Even when Russia went on the offensive, they doubted it will final: Why would Vladimir Putin wish to tackle 43 million new issues?
Some additionally weren’t assured that their military, a lot much less the cynical citizenry, would choose up arms to combat. Ukrainians are world-weary, worn down by excessive unemployment, slack progress and authorities corruption. Now they are saying the Russian assault has galvanized and united their individuals. One mentioned this invasion will probably be worse for Russia than Afghanistan within the Nineteen Eighties.
