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Talentless-Horton-T t1_iuix8d4 wrote

russia got to stop antogonizing the west, it only serves to harden populations against Putin

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Thue t1_iujk6rl wrote

Russia has been attacking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which all the experts say will not work to break Ukrainian will to fight. But at the same time, it surely hardens EU will to support Ukraine.

Russia's actions at the strategic level are utter idiocy. I guess Russia thinks actions like that make they appear strong and ruthless?

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Nandy-bear t1_iujl711 wrote

Because they are working on a whole other level. There are so many levels of yes-men, and scenarios that are only going through because the people above and below are terrified to push back. So you get to the point of "let's antagonise the West, we're Russia! We're Bear-STRONG!" and a bunch of dudes side-eyeing each other just agree.

(This is a ridiculously high level of simplification by armchair-analysis of course. But the point is..kinda made)

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rdxxx t1_iuk1656 wrote

They aim to create refugee crisis in Europe, they want to influence populations of countries which aid Ukraine to withdraw the support and sanctions on russia

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foul_ol_ron t1_iujgbk3 wrote

I wonder if a lot of the seemingly stupid actions are more aimed at influencing the russian population?

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silverback_79 t1_iuk8ftg wrote

Political analysts made clear years ago that Putin's reason for swinging the sabre is to silence domestic opposition, in the simplistic trick Goebbels codified already in the early '30s: "Enact martial law, start a war, and anyone who opposes you will be called 'unpatriotic, and lose their voice.'"

Putin couldn't care less if he takes all of the Ukraine with no further loss in manpower. He's already achieved the goal of "nobody even breathe a word of dissent now" mood in the Duma. Litterally, an article commented six months ago how quiet every session is today, just Putin rambling a bit, some experts say some rehearsed stuff, and then the session is ended, no body sticking their necks out from the other side of the isle, just content to still be allowed in there.

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