Kikapu wrote:Kikapu wrote:Yes, symbolically Ukraine can pat themselves on the back in causing this damage on the bridge, but it is by no means a game changer in the war, and most definitely not worthy to celebrate if the Russians respond with much costlier effect against the Ukrainians.
So Zelensky, was it really worth bombing the Crimea bridge with relatively little damage and then taking “victory laps” with a grin on your face from ear to ear, to which you have now got most of your power producing infrastructures put out of commission and complaining to anyone who would listen or care (not) to your complaints of Russian missile strikes? Didn’t you get the memo that winter is upon your country and that you will need power to keep your people warm? As for Europe, Zelensky is stopping any little symbolic electricity he was sending to you, pronto, perhaps enough to make a cup of tea or coffee! It is going to be a dark and cold winter in Ukraine for the next few months for all Ukrainians, but not for Zelensky and his inner circles.
Sorry - trying to sort out the wheat from chaff. There's been a lotta chaff!
The attack on the Kerch bridge - by whoever/however was brilliant in its execution. It was a major strategic target and supposedly defended as such. The event in itself, regardless of damage done, was monumental and a huge personal humiliation for Putin.
Subsequent attacks on Kiev and other targets are militarily inconsequential - a waste of what's apparently becoming precious ammo - and although supposedly designed to cower or terrorise the Ukrainians have actually had the opposite effect. They have more to do with Putin placating his, ever more confident, critics than revenge for Kerch.
Fast rewind.
In 1940 the German population were living life mostly as normal. That, basking in their forces victories overrunning Europe. Culminating in the Wehrmacht - and one of Hitler's rare foreign excursions - parading triumphantly through the Arc de Triomphe.
Goering boasted that if ever a bomb was dropped on Berlin "You can stop calling me Goering and call me Meyer". A German derogatory term. Hitler echoed that confidence in speeches.
On 25th August, 95 RAF aircraft set out to bomb Templehof airfield in Berlin. Damage was negligible but the result was monumental. Hitler and the German press were apoplectic. He forced the Luftwaffe to change its tactic of attacking - what was by then a much depleted and exhausted RAF - to the bombing of British cities as an act of petulant revenge. Following attacks on Berlin were carried out by the RAF where the sirens became known as "Meyer's trumpets". Despite low results it was thought worth it to get 4 million Germans out of bed and into shelters at night. Their government's assurances were taken with a hefty pinch of salt thereafter.
A month later the German air force was effectively defeated in the Battle of Britain. Which could be considered an early turning point in WW2.
My Grandparents used to march their families dutifully down the garden to spend the air raid periods in their Anderson shelters. Except on (tin) bath night. "If we're going to meet our maker it will be clean". The more the Germans bombed the more they hated them and the higher morale became.
Putin's efforts will, I am personally sure, end up producing the same results.
The Russians are losing this war and Putin's clearly becoming ever more desperate.
