Ukraine War Upd. EXTRA: RU Offensive, T-90M, Snyder on Russophobia, & Vehicle Footage
Table of Contents 📖
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"The claim that Ukrainians have to be killed because they have a mental illness known as Russophobia is bad for Russians because it educates them in genocide. But of course, such a claim is much worse for Ukrainians."
Hello Team!
Jonathan shares some footage to give a sense of what it's like inside vehicles involved in frontline war activities:
- Video from inside a Ukrainian BTR-4E in Bakhmut, likely from the gunner's perspective
- Footage from inside a Ukrainian T-64BM tank that gets hit by a Russian ATGM, but the crew survives thanks to explosive reactive armour
Russian soldier takes Ukrainian trench single-handedly
An older video has resurfaced showing a Russian soldier quietly entering a Ukrainian trench, shooting two Ukrainian soldiers, and capturing two others. Russians have praised the soldier's actions, but Jonathan notes it is a horrible situation.
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Is the Russian offensive really an offensive?
Jonathan discusses a video by Perun analyzing the Russian offensive in Ukraine:
- The offensive is underwhelming, but it is indeed an offensive based on data showing increased Russian losses in February and March
- Despite this, Russia has only captured 0.11% of Ukrainian territory in two months
- If Russia exhausts itself on this offensive, it leaves them vulnerable to a Ukrainian counter-offensive
- Perun's analysis validates much of what Jonathan has been saying, as they use many of the same sources
Analysis of captured Russian T-90M tank
A presentation by the Ukrainian military analyzed a captured Russian T-90M tank, finding:
- Many components are foreign, despite being presented as Russian
- The autoloader and armour arrangement are largely the same as the older T-72
- Adding armour has decreased the tank's mobility
- 15 T-90Ms have been visually confirmed as destroyed so far
- Without its electronics, the T-90M is somewhat worse than a T-72B
- The T-90M represents the best Russia can do with old Soviet tank designs, but it is still inferior to Western tanks
Clothing orders reveal Wagner's massive losses
Another piece of evidence supporting high Russian casualty figures is that the Wagner Group's orders for clothing from Russian military intelligence have been shrinking, likely due to catastrophic losses and lack of replacements in eastern Ukraine.
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Desperate Russian soldier commits suicide
Jonathan discusses a disturbing video (which he does not show) of a surrounded Russian soldier committing suicide. He notes this is the third such video, highlighting the desperation some Russian soldiers feel. Ukrainian soldiers do not seem to be in the same psychological state, as they are fighting for their homeland, family and culture rather than being unsure what they are even fighting for.
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Surprising Russian urban combat advice
A captured Russian "urban combat cheat sheet" includes some surprising advice:
- If an enemy gets between you and your comrades in a building, shoot in the direction of the enemy regardless of your comrades' presence
- If a group member is injured, only provide first aid after completely clearing the building
Jonathan is curious what military members think of this advice.
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Timothy Snyder on Russophobia
Historian Timothy Snyder spoke at the UN Security Council about how claims of "Russophobia" fit into fascist victimhood narratives, but the real harm to Russian culture comes from Russian policies:
- Forcing out creative/productive Russians
- Destroying independent Russian journalism
- Censorship and repression of free speech
- Perverting the memory of WWII
- Downgrading Russian culture worldwide
- Killing Russian-speakers in Ukraine
- Causing mass death of young Russian soldiers
- Involving a generation in war crimes and trauma
- Training Russians that genocide is normal through dehumanizing state media
Wrap up
Jonathan encourages viewers to read Timothy Snyder's full remarks. He emphasizes that it is Russia's own leadership, not "Russophobia", causing the most harm to the Russian people and culture.
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