Ukraine War Update EXTRA: Nord Stream 2, SK Arms Industry, & RU Soldier Motivation
Table of Contents 📖
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"It's misleading to claim that mobilized soldiers are victims of the war and had no choice. Conversations among soldiers suggest that few express criticism of the war itself. Instead, criticisms tend to focus on the perceived incompetence of the command or the perceived insufficient use of force to win."
Hello Team!
Jonathan introduces the video, apologising for being under the weather. He explains this is a Ukraine War Update Extra, providing additional information and insights to help viewers better understand the war.
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Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Sabotage
Jonathan discusses the recent New York Times and Zeit articles on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline sabotage, which point to a pro-Ukrainian group being responsible. This contrasts with Seymour Hersh's earlier piece claiming US involvement. Jonathan analyses an interview clip of Hersh, suggesting it reveals his anti-Ukraine bias and damages his credibility on the topic. The new articles, if true, put Ukraine in a precarious position with its allies, particularly Germany. However, Jonathan remains on the fence about the truth of the matter until more information emerges.
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Russian Soldier Motivation and Attitudes
A thread is discussed which compiles and generalises material on Russian soldiers' perspectives, motivations, and attitudes towards the war based on intercepted conversations and POW confessions. Key findings include:
- Many soldiers view the war primarily as a source of financial gain, with patriotic or ideological motivations being less prevalent
- Criticism among soldiers tends to focus on perceived incompetence of command or insufficient use of force, rather than the war itself
- Some believe more extreme measures should be taken to end the war quickly
- Personal enrichment is a significant motivator, with soldiers discussing plans to upgrade apartments, buy cars, pay off debts, and take family vacations using their earnings
- Increasingly, groups of Russian soldiers are refusing to fight due to heavy losses and perceived futility of their missions
South Korean Arms Industry
South Korea is expanding its weapons sales globally, aiming to become the 4th largest arms exporter by 2027. While refusing to send lethal aid directly to Ukraine to avoid provoking Russia, it is filling the global rearmament gap caused by production shortages among traditional suppliers. South Korea has maintained a robust domestic defence industry and is the fastest-growing among the top 25 arms exporters. It sweetens export deals by offering technology transfers and facilitating local production. Some South Korean weapon technology has indirectly reached Ukraine through other countries like Poland, despite export controls. South Korea's approach allows it to support Ukraine indirectly while boosting its own arms industry.
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Wrap up
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching and encourages them to like, subscribe, and share. He mentions the opportunity to support his channel through the UA Supporter website (uasupporter.com/ATP), where purchases can provide him with a small commission.
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