In a high propaganda environment you have to filter out almost everything. So I watch the maps, and I see Russia advancing and I see that sanctions aren't working to cripple the Russian military.

— Ian Welsh (@iwelsh) April 26, 2022

Gawdamn what a clown. Can’t remove that much clown makeup ever. As if those maps tell you anything actually useful.

Hint: it’s very profitable in a war to allow your enemy to advance, if their logistics are already stretched thin, and then attack their supply lines and weak points. In fact, if I were the Ukrainian military that’s exactly what I’d be doing. (Another hint: This is what they are doing!)

Territorial gains are meaningless if you can’t hold them afterwards. Air power is meaningless if you can’t use it without being shot down. Bombing cities is meaningless (in the strategic sense) if it does not destroy military capacity.

The best way to understand the war in Ukraine is to read Ian Welsh, and then assume the exact opposite is true. Because he is 100% wrong with literally every single thing he posts about this. He’s become such an idiot and it makes me sad. Though it’s also entertaining.